The annual report of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Intolerance was released on 4 September 2018 and representatives of the Baha’i International Community’s Brussels Office were in attendance at its launch entitled “Signs of Hope”.

The report of the Intergroup highlights recommendations to the European Union to “use its influence in the wider world to promote and protect [freedom of religion or belief]”. Ján Figel’, European Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union, pointed out that while there are still many restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, there are also “many signs of hope on all continents” that can be made more visible, such as “interreligious conviviality” efforts around the world.

The restrictions on the religious freedoms of Baha’is residing in Iran and Yemen were included in the report’s Annex, and the report noted the persecution and imprisonment of Baha’is solely for their religious beliefs in those countries.

Group photo: (From left) Mauro Gatti, Signs of Hope Research Coordinator of the University of Luxembourg, Dennis de Jong and Peter van Dalen, co-chairs of the European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance, Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament, Ján Figel’, European Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union, and Father Paulus El Ryany, of the Coptic ministry in Egypt.

The report and its annex can be found here [http://www.religiousfreedom.eu/2018/09/04/2018-report-and-annex/]

A video recording of the launch can be found here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=3aS8zSUi6vM]