INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Experts Call on Western Nations to Protect Religious Freedom

Encounter

Imagine by Freepik

Religious freedom advocates have urged Western countries to safeguard the rights of believers, particularly those holding traditional views on marriage and sexuality, as concerns grow over rising intolerance.

During a recent meeting in Berlin, experts from around the world highlighted an increasingly hostile climate for religious individuals in Europe and North America. Anja Hoffmann, executive director of the Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe, warned that the pressure is forcing many believers to conceal their faith.

“It is very worrying that the peaceful expression of personal religious beliefs on matters relating to marriage and family has become the potential end of a political career or employment, or even the beginning of a court case,” Hoffmann said. “This is a serious threat to religious freedom and leads to widespread self-censorship among traditional believers in the West.”

According to Christian Today, the meeting was held alongside the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which saw 38 member states of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), including the U.S., U.K., and Germany, gather to discuss global religious freedom concerns.

Organized by several groups, including the Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union and the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington, D.C., the event raised concerns about the marginalization and prosecution of Western believers for expressing traditional values.

A declaration was submitted to IRFBA states, urging them to protect the rights of all people, including those with traditional beliefs on family and sexuality. Todd Huizinga of the Religious Freedom Institute emphasized the importance of safeguarding religious freedom for all to maintain mutual understanding in pluralistic societies.

David Trimble, president of the Religious Freedom Institute, also raised alarms over efforts to undermine core beliefs held by Abrahamic faiths, stating, “When accommodation means the unwillingness to recognize these enduring truths, then freedom of religion for all is no longer freedom of religion at all.”

The event reflects growing concerns that Western democracies, while promoting tolerance and inclusivity, are increasingly marginalizing traditional religious beliefs about family, marriage, and human nature.

Related posts

Apostle Francina Norman to Lead Prophetic Sessions at Global Prayer Summit 2025

Jennifer Darko

Peterson Okopi and Prudent Gabriel Legally Tie the Knot

Joyce Twentoh

Moses Bliss Captivates Followers with New Photos Celebrating Grace

Joyce Twentoh

Leave a Comment