IARF News Digest

The European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield convened on September 21 to address Russia’s interference via Orthodox clergy, which aims to destabilize EU candidate countries. Experts Prof. Thorniké Gordadze and Prof. Lucian Leustean presented findings on Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. MEP Nathalie Loiseau cited Moldovan President Maia Sandu, highlighting Russia’s ongoing efforts to create divisions. Ahead of Moldova’s September 28 elections, authorities detained dozens linked to an alleged Russia-backed destabilization plot. Loiseau noted Russian propaganda falsely claiming the EU would destroy Orthodox churches if Moldova joined, and pointed to luxury trips for Moldovan priests to Moscow, allegedly to influence an EU membership referendum. MEPs voiced strong concerns: Tomas Zdechovsky (Czechia) highlighted Russian Orthodox Church interference in his country, attributing it to the FSB/GRU, and stressed the need to stop this infiltration. Vasile Dincu (Romania) emphasized the high trust in Orthodox churches in Eastern countries, making them susceptible to Russian propaganda, noting Moldova’s main Orthodox Church is linked to Moscow. Helmut Brandstätter (Austria) questioned acceptance of Russia’s “Holy War” concept and condemned the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for the re-education of Ukrainian children, suggesting investigations and deportations for clergy spying for Russia. Alexandra Geese (Germany) inquired about Ukraine’s creation of an autonomous Orthodox Church, ties between conservative American Evangelical and Orthodox churches, and the EU’s stance on the political role of Orthodox churches. A Bulgarian MEP defended the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, alleging persecution by the Ukrainian government.

CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) criticized Türkiye at the HRC60 for dismissing recommendations on religious freedom, specifically regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s legal personality, reopening Halki Seminary, and allowing non-Muslim communities to elect their leaders. CSW noted a deterioration in freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for Alevi Muslims, Bahai’s, and Christians, citing societal hostilities, hate speech, and unpunished hate crimes. CSW also expressed concern over threats to freedom of expression, regretting Türkiye’s refusal to release individuals imprisoned for it. Agnostic content creator Diamond Tema fled to Albania after death threats and an arrest warrant under Article 216 of the Turkish Criminal Code for criticizing the Prophet Mohammed’s marriage to Aisha and political parties. CSW urged Türkiye to drop the charge and revise Article 216 to align with international standards.

The Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) will urge the US Supreme Court to overturn Colorado’s ban on anti-LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy” for youth under 18 in the *Chiles v Salazar* case. ADF represents counselor Kaley Chiles, who argues the 2019 ban infringes on her free speech, despite major medical groups discrediting conversion practices as harmful and ineffective, linking them to increased depression and suicide attempts. Crucially, two scholars, Clifford Rosky and Dr. Lisa Diamond, whose research ADF cited to support its arguments, accuse the group of “profoundly” misrepresenting their work. Rosky, an advocate for conversion therapy bans, states his research (co-authored with Diamond) explicitly condemns conversion therapy as “psychologically damaging” and ineffective. Diamond clarified that ADF conflated natural sexual fluidity with forced repression, emphasizing the harm from shame and fear inherent in conversion therapy. Both scholars have filed a brief to correct these mischaracterizations. Similarly, the family of deceased researcher Nicholas Cummings, another ADF citation, expressed deep disturbance over the “distortion” of his work, asserting he condemned all forms of conversion therapy. ADF also cited a paper by Rev D Paul Sullins, claiming conversion therapy doesn’t increase suicide, which was contradicted by the Williams Institute at UCLA, whose data Sullins used, with the Institute’s researchers deeming Sullins’ conclusions “invalid.” ADF, which also relied on anonymous online posts, maintains its quotations are “accurate” and that Chiles seeks “voluntary conversations,” arguing there’s “no proof” of harm. Rosky, however, underscored the severe public health threat, citing research that 44% to 63% of youth undergoing conversion therapy attempt suicide. Given the Supreme Court’s conservative majority and recent rulings against LGBTQ+ rights, advocates fear a victory for Chiles could have “catastrophic” and far-reaching consequences, eroding protections for transgender and queer youth nationwide.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines voiced severe concern over “Operation Supak” in Maguindanao del Sur, where local officials allegedly targeted LGBTQIA persons, forcing same-sex adult couples to separate, citing conflicts with Islamic law. The CHR emphasized that these acts violate constitutional rights, dignity, and privacy, noting that the Philippines is a secular state where religious freedom cannot justify discrimination. The CHR has initiated an investigation and called for inter-agency action to protect the LGBTQIA community.

The European Parliament passed an unprecedented urgency resolution strongly condemning the Iranian government’s 45 years of “systematic persecution” against the Bahá’í community. The resolution, passed overwhelmingly by 549 MEPs, denounced arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, property confiscation, and exclusion from education/employment, citing a 1991 memorandum codifying these discriminatory policies. The Parliament demanded the immediate release of Bahá’ís imprisoned for their beliefs, the reversal of wrongful convictions, and urged EU institutions to impose sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for the persecution.

The Moscow City Court overturned the 8-year sentence given to Moscow Buddhist leader Ilya Vasilyev for an anti-war Facebook post, citing a violation of his right to a defense, though he remains detained pending a retrial. Meanwhile, the Moscow Regional Court upheld the 4-year jail term for Protestant pastor Nikolay Romanyuk, convicted for an anti-war sermon on religious grounds, confirming his transfer to a prison colony.

Following two massive typhoons, including Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), that devastated the Philippines in early November, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines (UUCP) is leading recovery efforts for the worst natural disaster in its nearly 70-year history. Eleven UU congregations and scores of families, particularly on Negros Island, were severely impacted. The UUCP, whose members are mostly farmers and fisher folk, received emergency grants totaling $20,000 from the UUA and UUSC for immediate food and water relief. The article emphasizes the need for ongoing donations to rebuild damaged homes and churches, restore livelihoods, and support community education on climate change resilience.

The IARF is launching a new, global online “Free Religion Institute” offering lectures on inter-religious and worldview dialogue from various spiritual and expert perspectives. Prof. George Williams, IARF International Board Chair and a Hindu specialist, will coordinate the program and host a free, open Zoom session on June 10 (8 PM European time), duplicated for different time zones. Vrijzinnigen Nederland’s board has tentatively approved a subsidy for the institute, reinforcing its connection to IARF’s international platform. This initiative is seen as a crucial step towards fostering mutual respect, tolerance, and global cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges, encouraging members to actively participate in the institute’s courses or the upcoming IARF conference in Offenbach. More information is available on iarf.net or via [email protected] for the Dutch member group.

The IARF (International Association for Religious Freedom) EME Conference 2025, themed “Limits of Religious Freedom and Tolerance,” will take place from September 11-14 in Offenbach and Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Prompted by current global challenges, the conference will explore freedom of thought, conscience, and worldview from diverse liberal perspectives, emphasizing international dialogue for support and problem-solving. The event, which is hybrid (online and in-person), also celebrates the 180th anniversaries of the host communities and IARF’s 125th year. A pre-conference tour of German frei-reigiöse groups is scheduled for September 9-11. All are invited, including young people, to engage in interfaith exchange and experience unity in diversity. Further details and registration are available at iarf.net.