…proponents of bans on veils in Europe see them as a way to liberate women and protect women and girls from societal pressure to veil themselves.
As alien as it may seem to some Europeans, veiling can be a choice, in the same way that other convictions or conduct that have been shaped by societal, family or religious influences are experienced by the individual as an expression of their identity.
Banning Muslim Veil Denies Women a Choice, Too – by Judith Sunderland
IARF applauds The Gambia’s rejection of the bill to repeal the FGM ban. This decision upholds crucial protections for women and girls, aligning with international human rights standards. The 2015 ban on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) remains a significant milestone in the global effort to eradicate this harmful practice. IARF continues to support human rights and bodily integrity worldwide.
Discover Sony Computer Education, GVAN, and IARF’s transformative tree plantation event at the district hospital premises on World Environment Day 2024. Join the global movement for a greener, more sustainable future and protect our planet.
Explore the controversy surrounding Kane’aki Heiau, a sacred Hawaiian shrine now inaccessible due to private property laws. Learn about the clash between indigenous religious rights and U.S. property regulations, and the efforts to protest this restriction on freedom of worship at an ancient temple.
IARF 124th Formation Day celebrated by BV Foundation for Peace and Harmony in India, promoting interfaith harmony and coexistence.
The IARF Europe and Middle East Regional Conference 2025 will explore the “Limits of Religious Freedom and Tolerance” in Frankfurt and Offenbach, Germany. This hybrid conference, hosted by German IARF member groups, will bring together members from all regions to discuss and promote liberal religion.
Religion largely aims to instill the Golden Rule, emphasizing compassion across different traditions, as highlighted on Karen Armstrong’s CharterforCompassion.org. This ethos, promoting altruism, drives human survival and outlines initiatives like the Unitarian Universalist Association’s commitment to transforming the world through liberating love, addressing global ills such as hate, greed, and social inequalities.