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Norway discriminates against Jehovah’s Witnesses

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Oral statement denouncing the discrimination by the Dutch branch of Human Rights Without Frontiers at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on 7 October

“Mensenrechten Zonder Grenzen Nederland is deeply concerned about a decision in Norway which arbitrarily revoked the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses present in the country for over 130 years. This measure puts an end to their eligibility for state grants they had received for 30 years.

The registration of the Norwegian Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious organization for 39 years was put to an end on unclear and controversial grounds in 2022.

In addition, on 4 March of this year, the Oslo District Court upheld the decisions of the County Governor of Oslo and Viken who has denied Jehovah’s Witnesses state subsidies since 2021. The financial loss is estimated at 1.6 million EUR for 2021. An appeal has been lodged.

We recommend that the Government of Norway

  • cancel the discriminatory decision to remove the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious community;
  • reconsider and reverse the denial of state grants since 2021;
  • abide by their commitment to uphold fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Norway, the ICCPR and the European Convention on Human Rights for all citizens, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.

State subsidies in Norway are not a gift. The Lutheran Church of Norway which is a state church is financially supported by the government and gets state subsidies proportional to the number of its members. For the sake of coherence and non-discrimination, the Constitution mandates that other religions should also benefit from the same financing system and get subsidies in proportion of the number of their members. Over 700 religious communities receive such state grants in Norway, including Orthodox parishes subordinated to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow who blessed Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

Background information

Jehovah’s Witnesses go to trial against Norway after state registration is revoked

Source: Religion News Service (16.01.2024) 

With its recognition of more than 700 registered faith communities, Norway is often admired as a bastion of religious freedom. But after Norway deregistered the Jehovah’s Witnesses last year, some human rights experts say that reputation could be in question. Now, the Jehovah’s Witnesses of Norway are suing the state for revoking their national registration and withholding state funds. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are the first religious group to lose their national registration in Norway.

The trial, which began Jan. 8, 202 will determine whether some practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses violate Norway’s Religious Communities Act or whether withdrawing the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ registration violates their right to freedom of religion and freedom of association, as guaranteed in the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Willy Fautre at OSCE 2024

“It’s certainly the most important trial about a religious freedom issue in Norway in decades,” Willy Fautré, director of the Brussels-based organization Human Rights Without Frontiers, told Religion News Service.

In January 2022, Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, the county governor of Oslo and Viken, in Norway, denied Jehovah’s Witnesses state grants for the year 2021 in response to concerns about what she perceived as exclusionary practices. The Jehovah’s Witnesses had received the grants, which currently amount to around $1.5 million annually, for three decades. These funds are typically used for international disaster relief work and supporting religious activity in Norway, including translating literature and building kingdom halls, according to Jørgen Pedersen, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway.

In an announcement originally written in Norwegian, the county governor of Oslo and Viken claimed that Jehovah’s Witnesses are forbidden to contact disfellowshipped members, as well as people who voluntarily dissociate, which can hinder a person’s ability to freely withdraw from the group. She also argued that Jehovah’s Witnesses may disfellowship children who have chosen to be baptized if they break the religious community’s rules, a practice she said constituted “negative social control” and violated children’s rights. These practices, the county governor argued, defy Norway’s Religious Communities Act. “We have assessed the offenses as systematic and intentional, and have therefore chosen to refuse grants,” the press release said.

In an email to RNS, Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesperson Jarrod Lopes said Witnesses only disfellowship an unrepentant member who “makes a practice” of serious violations of “the Bible’s moral code.” Even then, Lopes added, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t force members to limit or cease association with former congregants, whether they’ve been disfellowshipped or withdrawn voluntarily — that’s up to individuals. “Congregation elders do not police the personal lives of congregants, nor do they exercise control over the faith of individual Jehovah’s Witnesses,” wrote Lopes.

Pedersen added that the serious sins that might lead to disfellowship include manslaughter, adultery and drug use. He said a congregation will always try to help an individual restore their relationship with God, but if the problem persists, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel compelled to respect the entire Bible, including instructions to not associate with unrepentant sinners, such as 1 Corinthians 5:11.

Though the Witnesses appealed the county governor’s decision, in September 2022 the Ministry for Children and Families upheld the ruling. In October that same year, the county governor said in a press release that unless Jehovah’s Witnesses would “rectify the conditions that led to the refusal of state subsidies,” they would lose registration, which they did a few months later, in December. Without its national registration, Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot perform marriages, and they lose entitlement to government grants.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses of Norway filed two lawsuits against the state in December 2022: one challenging the denial of state grants and another challenging their loss of registration. Those lawsuits have since been combined. Though the Oslo District Court initially granted the Jehovah’s Witnesses an injunction that suspended their deregistration until that case was argued, the Ministry challenged the injunction, and in April 2023, the court removed it.

As the trial plays out at the District Court of Oslo, Jason Wise, an attorney who is acting as a consultant on the case for the legal team representing the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway, said part of the Witnesses’ argument is that there is no evidence of harm and that it’s not the place of the state to interpret religious texts. The state continues to contend that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practices are in conflict with the Religious Communities Act, particularly, they claim, by exposing children to psychological violence.

Since 2022, Jehovah’s Witnesses have reported an increase in vandalism, harassment and physical assaults in Norway. In September 2022, two Jehovah’s Witnesses in Harstad, Norway, reported that a man screamed at them and repeatedly attempted to hit one of them. That same month, a man in Kristiansand, Norway, reportedly set a Jehovah’s Witnesses mobile display car on fire, and a month later, someone attempted to set fire to a Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting place in Fauske, Norway.

Norway isn’t the only place where Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practices have been under scrutiny. In December, the Belgian Court of Cassation — the highest court in the Belgian judiciary — rejected an appeal of a lower court’s decision, ruling in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ right to avoid contact with former members. “Norway is just the tip of another phenomenon. That is a source of concern, because we see that there are more and more attempts in Europe by state institutions to interfere and intrude into the teachings and practices of religious groups, which is forbidden by the European Convention,” said Fautré. “The risk is they would open the door to more court cases against other religious groups.”

Lebanon escalation: Have we learned nothing from Gaza, UN humanitarians ask

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Lebanon escalation: Have we learned nothing from Gaza, UN humanitarians ask

Speaking from Beirut in the aftermath of Lebanon’s “worst day in 18 years”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) deputy representative in the country, Ettie Higgins, said that unless the violence stopped, the consequences could be “unconscionable”.

The wide-ranging Israeli strikes conducted on Monday in retaliation to attacks by the armed group Hezbollah killed at least 492 people, including 35 children and 58 women, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Another 1,645 were also injured across the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted a key line from his speech to world leaders on Tuesday morning that Lebanon stood “on the brink.” The people of Lebanon and the world “cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza”, he said. 

Rules of war reminder

UN human rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed alarm at the “sharp escalation” of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and called on all parties “to immediately cease the violence and to ensure the protection of civilians”.

Since the start of the war in Gaza last October, cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified, displacing tens of thousands of people in Israel and in southern Lebanon. The situation escalated further last week when dozens of people in Lebanon were killed and thousands were injured when pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded. Over the weekend, Hezbollah reportedly launched 150 rockets into northern Israel.

“Any further escalation in this conflict will be absolutely catastrophic for all children in Lebanon, and especially families from towns and villages in the south and Bekaa, in eastern Lebanon” who have been forced to leave their homes, UNICEF’s Ms. Higgins insisted. She stressed that the newly displaced were in addition to the 112,000 people already uprooted since last October.

Fleeing in panic

The UNICEF official reported that schools were closed across the country on Tuesday, “leaving children at home in fear”. Those on the move are “arriving only with clothes that they left in” as many “slept in cars and on the side of the road, in Beirut and Saïda,” she said, while “their caregivers are themselves afraid of the uncertainty of the situation”.

UNICEF said that 87 shelters have been set up to accommodate the displaced, whose numbers are growing by the hour, in the South, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Baalbek, Hermel, Bekaa and the North governorates.

From the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh noted that Lebanon has for many years been a “generous host” to refugees, including an estimated 1.5 million Syrians living in the country.

He warned that owing to the current escalation, many face displacement once again – a fresh crisis “after COVID-19, the economic downturn and the impact of the Beirut blast” in the capital’s port more than four years ago.

History repeating

OHCHR’s Ms. Shamdasani deplored the “spillover” of violence, asking, “Have we not learned anything from what has been happening in Gaza over the past year?”

Referring to the impact of last week’s pager attacks, she said that it was “extremely abnormal” to have “people losing their eyes and when you have hospitals not able to cope with the amount of amputations that they need to carry out”.

“We’ve heard all this before, haven’t we? Last year and throughout the past year. This is not normal and this needs to stop,” she insisted.

“The High Commissioner is calling for an immediate de-escalation. The United Nations General Assembly is meeting. World leaders are gathering in New York. They need to prioritize bringing this conflict to an end.”

Ms. Shamdasani also pointed out that Hezbollah “has been firing hundreds of rockets into Israel”, raising concerns about the “indiscriminate nature” of their attacks.

“Our calls for the respect for international humanitarian law go to all parties to the conflict, and this, of course, includes Hezbollah,” she said.

Healthcare overwhelmed

Addressing the health situation in the country, Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Lebanon, said that following last week’s attacks, over 2,000 surgeries have been performed on the wounded and close to 1,000 people are still hospitalized.

Speaking from Beirut, Dr. Abubakar said that WHO had been working with the Lebanese health authorities since last October to prepare for a potential mass casualty event, but that the impact of the wireless device attacks was “unprecedented” and could “overwhelm any health system”. Most of the related wounds have been to the face and hands, he explained, and many people had both eye and hand injuries, requiring “two different sets of operations”.

“Most of the people who are still in admission in the hospitals… are still waiting for surgery, but also waiting for amputation,” he said. “We have never seen so much of injuries related to the hands and face and nerves,” requiring interventions by specialized doctors.

Panic, fear and chaos

Turning to Monday’s deadly airstrikes, OHCHR addressed reports that tens of thousands of people in Lebanon had received mobile phone messages from the Israeli military instructing them to stay away from places where Hezbollah stores weapons. Ms. Shamdasani said that the messages seemed to assume that civilians would be aware of arms storage locations and had contributed to spreading “panic, fear and chaos”.

“If you warn people of an imminent attack, that does not absolve you of the responsibility to protect civilians,” she said. “The obligation to protect civilians is paramount. So, whether you’ve sent out a warning telling civilians to flee, [it] doesn’t make it okay to then strike those areas, knowing full well that the impact on civilians will be huge.”

“What we have seen here raises questions about the respect of international humanitarian law,” which is meant to “protect civilians and thus our common humanity,” Ms. Shamdasani insisted. 

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Hungarian Patriots at stake, China police take the streets of Hungary

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Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Vang Hsiahong, State Councilor of the People's Republic of China, Minister of Public Security (b3) will hold talks in Carmelita on February 16, 2024 – Photo: Benko Vivien Cher /Press Office of the Prime Minister /MTI

The presence of Chinese police in Hungary is not just a fleeting event; it marks a potentially transformative moment in Hungary’s foreign relations and internal security strategies. As the collaboration between Budapest and Beijing deepens, analysts are closely monitoring how this shift will affect Hungary’s role within the European Union, where skepticism towards Chinese influence has heightened in recent years.

Critics of the partnership argue that it could lead to a normalization of foreign police presence on EU soil, which raises fundamental questions about the protection of individual rights. The EU has long upheld values of democracy and human rights, and the introduction of officers from an authoritarian regime like China’s presents a stark contrast to those principles. Human rights organizations within Europe are voicing their concerns, warning that normalizing such cooperation could embolden repressive practices in Hungary and possibly in neighboring countries as well.

Furthermore, this collaboration occurs against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, particularly as the West grapples with the implications of China’s global ambitions. The United States and its allies have been increasingly vigilant regarding China’s influence in Eastern Europe, viewing Hungary’s actions as a potential gateway for further Chinese penetration into the EU.

Hungary’s ongoing partnership with China is part of a broader trend wherein Central and Eastern European countries are increasingly looking to Beijing for investment and strategic alliances. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “16+1 initiative,” has drawn a mixed response from EU officials who worry that it undermines the union’s cohesive stance on issues such as human rights and security.

As public awareness of the implications of this collaboration grows, it remains to be seen how the Hungarian government will navigate the pushback from civil society and EU institutions. The coming months will be critical as Hungary assesses its commitment to longstanding democratic values in light of its evolving relationship with China.

‘Pivotal moment’ as violence against children reaches unprecedented levels worldwide

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United Nations News
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‘Pivotal moment’ as violence against children reaches unprecedented levels worldwide

“Millions of children worldwide are victims of physical, sexual, and psychological violence both online and offline, including child labor, child marriage, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, trafficking, bullying, and cyberbullying, among many others,” she said.

According to the report many more children are vulnerable to violence due to what it calls “multidimensional poverty.”

Half of the world’s children, around one billion, are identified as “at high risk” of being affected by the climate crisis.

One in six young people worldwide are also growing up in conflict zones.

“This is a pivotal moment. Violence against children has reached unprecedented levels, caused by multifaceted and interconnected crises,”, Ms. M’Jid said. 

The vulnerability of children to violence is a worldwide issue, transcending geographical and socioeconomic boundaries. 

“The problem currently is that no country is immune, no child is immune. In all countries, we are finding many forms of violence,” Ms. M’Jid stated, adding that “you can have the same child who is victim of various forms of violence in various settings.”

© UNICEF/Ralph Tedy Erol

Children across the world, including in Haiti (pictured), face the threat of violence in conflict situations.

According to the report, nearly 400 million children under five regularly endure psychological aggression and physical punishment at home.

Figures released by the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, ahead of International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, estimate that more than 370 million girls and women alive today, or one in eight, experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18.

When ‘non-contact’ forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse are included, the number of girls and women affected rises to 650 million, according to UNICEF.

Online exploitation 

Ms. M’Jid expressed particular concern about online child sexual exploitation.

“The issue is really big”, warned Ms. M’Jid, with “the increase of internet connectivity among children and a rise in online predators”. 

Many children face online abuse.

Many children face online abuse.

Cyberbullying also emerged as a significant issue, with 15 per cent of children worldwide reporting victimisation.

The Special Representative noted that the issue is a complex problem to address. “It’s not an easy task to resolve because you have three pieces to take into account. The victims, the bullies and the bystanders”.

Child Labour: A form of violence

The report reveals that 160 million children are still engaged in child labour “a form of violence against children,” according to Ms. M’Jid. “Children should be in school, not working.”

She further emphasised the interconnected nature of different forms of violence. “Many children who are victims of child labour are also victims of trafficking, smuggling and sexual exploitation”.

Long-lasting impacts

The report highlights the severe consequences of violence against children. “It has a long-lasting impact on children’s mental health. We see increased rates of suicide, behavioural disorders, eating disorder, drug addiction, despair and post-traumatic stress disorder”.

Ms. M’Jid also explained that “it affects their education, performance and learning”.  

 

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EU Voices Concerns Over Israeli Draft Bill Targeting UNRWA

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we were all once refugees text on multicolored ceramic tile
Photo by Antoine Merour on Unsplash

The European Union has expressed deep apprehension regarding a draft bill currently under discussion in the Israeli parliament that threatens the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This legislation, if passed, could have catastrophic implications for Palestine refugees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

In a statement, the EU underscored its support for the UN Secretary General’s call to address the situation, emphasizing that the draft bill would prevent UNRWA from continuing its vital services. “The final adoption of the bill would abrogate the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA, stopping all operations in Israel and East Jerusalem,” a high-ranking EU official stated. “This would destroy UNRWA’s life-saving operations in Gaza and seriously hamper the provision of health, education, and social services in the West Bank.”

The EU has urged Israeli authorities to allow UNRWA to carry out its crucial work in accordance with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly. “UNRWA provides essential services to millions of people across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and is a pillar of regional stability,” the official added. “It plays a fundamental role in ensuring the conditions on the ground for a credible pathway towards the Two-State solution.”

The potential legislation would not only halt UNRWA’s operations but also revoke its diplomatic privileges and immunities, significantly undermining its effectiveness. The EU reiterated its commitment to supporting UNRWA and closely monitoring the implementation of recommendations from the Independent Review Group report. “We are committed to ensuring neutrality, accountability, and strengthening control and oversight over the operations of the Agency,” the EU representative affirmed.

As the situation unfolds, the EU remains a firm supporter of the United Nations and the multilateral, rules-based global governance system, recognizing UNRWA’s critical role in providing humanitarian assistance and fostering stability in a volatile region. The implications of this draft bill extend beyond immediate humanitarian concerns, potentially jeopardizing the fragile peace process and the future of countless refugees reliant on UNRWA’s services.

Interview with Eric Roux, new elected Chair of the United Religions Initiative (URI)

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Juan Sanchez Gil
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URI is known as the largest international grassroots interfaith cooperation organization in the world. It brings people of all faiths together in more than 100 countries on all continents. We had the opportunity to interview Eric Roux, its newly elected Chair.

In a world like ours, where conflicts are increasingly covering the face of the earth, and where religions have failed to prevent it, if not contributed to it, why would interfaith matter?

I wouldn’t say that “religions failed” more than “governments failed” or “the UN failed”, “the OSCE failed”, etc. In fact, if you want to put the blame on someone, you should say that we, as humanity, have failed until now to prevent wars and conflicts. None of us can exclude ourselves from the responsibility of our world. But blame does not solve anything. Many people think of interfaith as an activity where some people from two or three mainstream religions meet and come out with a wishy-washy statement calling for world peace. That’s not what it is.

We, at URI, do interfaith cooperation. That means that we bring people together, from different faiths, the more inclusive the better, and we make sure that we work together toward a specific purpose. So let’s say that your interfaith cooperation group is working on environmental issues. Their primary focus will be to be efficient in that field. But one immediate side effect will be that they will have to share the space with their fellows from other religions, to share the same reality of their mission, and to communicate together to accomplish their goals. The result will be that they will understand each other, will become friends, and that itself contribute to a more peaceful world. Of course, it’s all about the scope and size of these activities. It requires a lot, a huge lot of cooperation to have a noticeable effect at global level.

So, how does it work, concretely?

In URI, it’s the grassroots which leads the effort. We have more than 1,200 groups on the ground, all over the world, which we call “cooperation circles”. They are composed of people of different religions or spiritual traditions, who have decided to work together to create a positive impact in specific fields. Some are engaged in the restoration of the environment and the preservation of the Earth from the consequences of the climate change. Some will focus on the prevention of religiously motivated violence and organize healing sessions between communities at odd to create communication between them. Some are focusing on artistic performances that bring together people who otherwise would never learn from each other. Some are working against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, along with the UN. Others will dedicate themselves to protect the rights of indigenous communities when their spiritual traditions are endangered by bigotry and vested interests. As well as dozens of other topics or sub-topics. But at the end of the day they all contribute to the purpose of URI, which is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

At a lunch organized by the Sikh community, Parliament of the World Religions 2023
At a lunch organized by the Sikh community, Parliament of the World Religions 2023

And how would you describe the difference between URI and other interfaith organizations?

It’s the grassroots component which really makes the difference. Several big interfaith organizations put the stress on religious leaders, mainly from the big religious organizations. While bringing aboard religious leaders is important, we believe that to really create a broad impact, you need to give a chance to everyone to contribute. And you can be surprised by some people of faith or not who don’t hold any title, and are not religious leaders, and can in fact be leaders in their community when it comes to advancing the good. It’s not that we criticize other international interfaith organizations, as we are partners and they do a great and crucial job, but ours is a vital complement to it. Both is necessary: religious leaders, and individuals who want to dedicate their life, or part of their life, to bring about a better world where people of all faiths or none can live together in harmony. I am not saying we are the only ones to do that, but that’s what makes us special, as an large international organization.

In fact, the board of trustees in URI is made of people who are grassroots interfaith activists, from all regions of the globe. They are elected by the cooperation circles themselves, among themselves. It’s not top-down, it’s bottom-up, and finally circling in a virtuous way. Those who know the difficulties on the ground are those who will help URI defining its strategy to overcome the challenges. They are helped and supported by a staff made of people who are super-dedicated to interfaith and to the purpose of URI. Being a staff in URI, whether you are the Executive Director, a Senior Director, a regional coordinator or any other post, is not a normal job. It’s a mission, a peace-making mission which is led by people who are heart and soul for fostering understanding and collaboration between people of all faiths and spiritual traditions.  

Sorry to ask a provocative question, but do you really believe that an organization like URI is able to bring peace on Earth, end religiously motivated violence and bring justice to all living beings?

You know, the bad behaviors behind wars and violence are contagious. But so are positive behaviors. Most of the people are interested in living their life in harmony with others. Very few are those who really love war. When they see examples of good behaviors between people who have different backgrounds, they find hope again.

Few days ago, I received a message from one of our cooperation circles in Sri Lanka, as they had started a project to restore the mangrove ecosystems in a lagoon in Puttalam District. That may sound minor, but it’s not. First of all, when they do that, they bring together members of the surrounding villages who come to participate to the action, and all of them mingle with people who don’t have the same faith than them, sharing a joyful experience of doing something positive for their society. That’s much more powerful than bad behavior, as that will stay in their soul as a sunny truth. Those people will be much more difficult to convert to violence, as they have tasted the good of living together in peace and cooperating toward positive goals. That will not stop the war in the Middle East, you can tell me. Well, I guess not, unless you believe in the butterfly effect. But let’s say that around the lagoon, only 1,000 people noticed it. Their lives are changed by it. You multiply this by 1,200 (the number of cooperation circles) and 365 days in a year, and you start having quite a better number of people touched by positive interfaith cooperation. But even if it was just that 1,000 people in Sri Lanka, it would be worth it. Not to mention the positive effect on the mangrove, which will enable future generations to survive better.

Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels
URI volunteers in the mangrove, Sri Lanka

I’m not saying it’s enough. We are very aware of the need to grow and increase the cooperation, everywhere, anytime, if we want to have a chance to counterbalance the chaos created by a few. But we know by experience that this is the way: bringing people together and have them work toward a common positive goal, where all have a chance to help, contribute, and create.

I would add this little thing: yes, the world is not doing well, and yes there are wars and conflicts, religious persecutions, injustice, bigotry, hate speech, terrorism as well as a tremendous environmental challenge nowadays. Nevertheless, we should never forget that beautiful things exist too, and that many things in the world are doing well. A lot of people are working for the good, a lot of initiatives are bringing about a better world, most of the people like each other, miracles of life happen every day, and that is the most important thing in humanity, as well as in the creation as a whole. We, the people, know how to do magic. It’s just a matter of doing more in favor of a better world, and not accepting anymore the bad things as a fatality.

So yes, we believe we can do something, and we also believe we can fulfill our mission to a complete success. Are we dreamers? Certainly, but who says a dream can’t come true?

Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels
Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels

Thank you. And finally, do you think URI made a good choice in electing you as the Chair?

I hope so. Honestly, in URI, the role of the Chair is to serve. The former Chair, Preeta Bansal, was fantastic and brought URI to new heights in terms of setting its innovative organizational form and bringing a renewed grassroots vision. And behind URI, you have the vision of a giant, its founder Bishop Bill Swing, who dreamed it and made it a reality, bringing the vision of a few to a movement that touches millions in only two decades. So I just see myself as a servant of the 1,200 cooperation circles that do the job every day, of my fellow trustees who have a long experience of serving their communities, and a partner of the Executive Director Jerry White, and the staff who dedicate their time to help cooperation circles to grow and act. I love URI, I love the people in it, I love the people in general, and I believe that it has the true potential of bringing about a better world. So why should I save my energy on it?

Bruxelles Média: Firm response to the defamatory allegations made by Blast

By
Lahcen Hammouch
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It is regrettable that Blast, under the guise of an alleged journalistic investigation by journalist Philippe Engel, has chosen to spread false and defamatory allegations against me and my organization, Bruxelles Média. I wish to set the record straight and expose the true motives behind these attacks.

1. Almouwatin asbl no longer exists: an obvious manipulation

Firstly, it’s essential to point out that Almouwatin was closed for good in 2019, and that Bruxelles Média was founded under a completely new framework. The fact that Blast chooses to mix the two entities demonstrates a blatant lack of professionalism and a deliberate desire to sow confusion. Our offices are located at the Cité des Associations in Brussels, we are in full compliance with our legal obligations, and recognized by the Belgian CSA (Supreme Council of Audiovisual).

2. A transparent and constructive collaboration

Our relationship with Eddy Van Ryne is that of a friendly, professional collaboration. Blast tries to portray our work as suspect, whereas we work together to promote initiatives for inter-religious dialogue and peace. My skills are recognized and my commitment to constructive projects cannot be called into question by malicious insinuations.

3. Proven independence

Bruxelles Média operates without public subsidies and has never sought any. We concentrate on organizing constructive events and debates. Blast’s insinuations are not only unfounded, they are part of a strategy of intimidation typical of media losing credibility.

4. Malicious confusion with Le Matin.ma

The allegations of a link with Le Matin.ma are based on a technical misunderstanding. Our webmaster has clarified that this was a simple error, and not a connivance with a Moroccan media outlet. Blast’s continued insistence on this point demonstrates its inability to conduct a rigorous and honest investigation.

5. Interfaith dialogue: an easy target

My collaboration with religious institutions and actors, be it the Church of Scientology, but also with Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants and even humanists, is part of a framework of inter-religious dialogue, and not part of any promotion of sectarianism. This willingness to reduce my efforts to accusations of complicity is a reflection of Blast’s ignorance and contempt for the work of those who genuinely seek to promote dialogue and peace.

6. Blast: a corrupt media on the verge of decline

It’s ironic that Blast, which claims to uphold ethical values, is itself at the heart of controversies concerning its independence and dubious practices. Suspected links with investors from the United Arab Emirates raise questions about their objectivity. Indeed, the newspaper “Libération” recently accused Blast of being financed by investors from the United Arab Emirates, raising questions about the transparency of their operations. It is also worth noting that Blast is facing more than 40 complaints for misleading and defamatory investigations, testifying to its inability to produce quality journalism.

Blast is also the newspaper which, on October 7 2024, as the world commemorates the innocent Jewish victims killed by Hamas in Israel, publishes an interview with Michèle Siboni in which she declares that “the Jews who died on October 7, and all those who followed, are the victims of a colonial regime”, and that the Hamas assassins are waging nothing other than a “war of liberation of an oppressed people”. To justify itself, Blast can think of nothing better than to invoke a concern for “rationality and freedom”. Certainly, my work for peace, particularly between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, will not find favor in the eyes of a media suffering from such unabashed anti-Semitism.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Bruxelles Média: Firm response to the defamatory allegations made by Blast
Bruxelles Média: Firm response to the defamatory allegations made by Blast 8



Certainly, by publishing their article today, on the eve of the municipal elections, they are hoping to influence the vote, perhaps financed by backers who would prefer not to see actors for peace and dialogue elected. Another ironic position of Blast which states that politics and journalism sometimes don’t mix.

In conclusion, I strongly condemn Blast’s attacks, which have no other aim than to sully my reputation and that of Bruxelles Média. We will continue to work for peace and dialogue, despite the attempts to denigrate by a media that is losing ground.

Lahcen Hammouch



MSCA researcher David Baker wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

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MSCA researcher David Baker wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Dr Krausz has supervised MSCA postdoctoral researchers and coordinated several MSCA projects over the past two decades, including NICOS, ALPINE or ATTOTRON.

Both L’Huillier and Krausz obtained funding and cooperated through the MSCA doctoral training network ATTOFEL, and trained and supervised a number of doctoral researchers.

They also received funding through several projects funded under FP6, the 6th EU’s research and innovation programme.

2022

Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to former MSCA supervisors Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger, alongside John F. Clauser, “for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science”.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to former MSCA supervisor Morten Meldal, alongside Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry”.

2021

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to former MSCA supervisors Benjamin List and David MacMillan for their development of organocatalysis, a new precise tool for molecular construction described as “an ingenious tool for building molecules”.

2020

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier (Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens), an MSCA alumna and principal investigator involved in the training of young researchers in the field of genomics in the MSCA project ENLIGHT-TEN ITN.

Dr Charpentier received the award alongside Dr Jennifer A. Doudna “for the development of a method for genome editing”, CRISPR/Cas9.

2017

Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded for the work of Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne “for their decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”.

The MSCA project GraWIToN involved nine MSCA fellows who contributed to the preparation of the data on gravitational waves.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, to Richard Henderson (Medical Research Council), the coordinator of the MSCA project Membrane Proteases. His work was honoured along with Jacques Dubochet and Joachim Frank “for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution”.

2016

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to Bernard Feringa, Jean-Pierre Sauvage and J. Fraser Stoddart. Bernard Feringa (University of Groningen) was in charge and supervisor of several MSCA projects such as ALERT while Jean-Pierre Sauvage (University of Strasbourg) was the supervisor for the MSCA projects NANO-PRESSES and FEMOS.

They received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with J. Fraser Stoddart “for the design and synthesis of molecular machines”.

2015

Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Takaaki Kajita (University of Tokyo) who was involved in MSCA projects as a participant. He earned the Nobel Prize “for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass”.

The Japanese researcher has participated in several MSCA projects promoting international collaboration, such as ELITES, SKPLUS and InvisiblesPlus.

2014

Stefan W. Hell (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg) was an MSCA fellow at the University of Turku in 1996-1997. He then coordinated several MSCA Individual Fellowships prior to receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Eric Betzig and William E. Moerner “for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy”.

The MSCA fellowship saved my career because it bought me some time to perform a number of important experiments that supported the viability of my ideas and eventually find an institution that would support me in pursuing them.

Dr. Stefan Hell, 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Edvard I. Moser and May-Britt Moser (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim) are former MSCA project coordinators. The two Norwegians received a Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology alongside John O’Keefe “for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain”.

Jean Tirole (Toulouse School of Economics) was a supervisor of the MSCA project MASIEGE. He received the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel “for his analysis of market power and regulation”.

2013

James Rothman (Yale School of Medicine) was a supervisor in the MSCA project BFLDs. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine alongside Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof “for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells”.

Several fellows from the MSCA projects ITN ACEOLE, ITN TALENT, COFUND CERN, COFUND CERN 2010 and LHC-PHYS were directly or indirectly involved in the revolutionary sub-atomic particle discovery of the Higgs Boson.

This discovery led to the award of the Nobel Prize in Physics to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs.

2012

Serge Haroche (Collège de France and École Normale Supérieure) supervised the MSCA project ONDEQUAM. He received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside David J. Wineland “for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems”.

2010

Konstantin Novoselov (University of Manchester) has received funding, supervised and coordinated several MSCA projects, including GRAPHENE, MEDICIS-PROMED, 2DMAT4ENERGYand PTMCnano. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Andre Geim “for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene”.

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Religious Persecution in Europe: Margaritis Schinas’ Vision for Internal Tolerance and Solidarity

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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0

In a passionate and reflective speech delivered at the European Parliament during the “how to stop the rise of religious intolerance in Europe” debate, Mr. Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, addressed the importance of religious freedom, tolerance, and the European way of life. His speech, rich in both historical context and forward-looking vision, called for a united European response to religious intolerance while affirming the values that define Europe today.

Schinas highlighted both the internal and external challenges facing the European Union and emphasized Europe’s commitment to human rights, freedom of religion, and the protection of democracy. However he failed to mention the lack o action and the amount of state sponsored discriminations within Europe, not just about historical religions, but specially against the new religious movements, often ostracized by the very European Commission.

A Union of Freedom and Democracy

Mr. Schinas began his address by acknowledging the importance of religious tolerance as central to what Europe stands for today. “It’s a union of freedom. It’s a union of democracy,” he declared, emphasizing the need to preserve these core values within and beyond European borders. Schinas made it clear that addressing religious intolerance in all its forms is an essential part of maintaining Europe’s identity as a beacon of democracy and freedom.

Joint Action Against Religious Intolerance

Religious intolerance remains a significant issue both within Europe and abroad. Schinas stressed the need for a united approach at the EU level, urging for collaboration among European institutions. He called for dialogue and understanding, cautioning against finger-pointing or fostering toxic divisions. “All of us work together at EU level, within the EU institutions, without pointing fingers, without cries of hatred, without toxicity, through dialogue and understanding,” he said, signaling the importance of constructive engagement in tackling this sensitive issue.

The European Commission, according to Schinas, is committed to playing a pivotal role in addressing religious intolerance by providing funding, support, and catalyzing processes that foster togetherness among Europeans.

Promoting Religious Freedom Beyond Europe’s Borders just by word

In addition to tackling issues within Europe, Schinas emphasized Europe’s moral responsibility to defend freedom of religion and belief worldwide. “We have a moral duty to stand for religious freedom,” he asserted. Europe must speak out wherever religions, including Christianity, are under threat, and where individuals are persecuted for their beliefs. To this end, Schinas announced (as if it was almost new) the appointment of Frans van Daele as the EU’s envoy for promoting and protecting religious freedom across the globe (in fact only for outside the European Union), reaffirming Europe’s commitment to championing these freedoms beyond its borders.

He shared details of van Daele’s recent missions to Jerusalem and Pakistan, noting that these efforts are critical in spreading the European message of religious tolerance and freedom across the world. However, Schinas did not mention that the status of the EU Special Envoy is not better than the one of a volunteer, with no salary, no budget and not political weight.

The European Way of Life: A Broken Mirror of Values

Schinas then turned to a theme that has defined much of his tenure as Vice President: the European way of life. Recalling his parliamentary hearing five years ago, where the European way of life was debated, Schinas underscored that this concept is not about exclusion or superiority. “The European way of life is not a bulldozer. It’s a mirror that reflects the richness, the diversity, the might, the values, the principles that unite us,” he explained.

The European way of life, as Schinas described, is a system where democracy flourishes, minorities’ rights are meant to be protected, and human rights are respected (at least by some). It is a union where women play a central role in family, society, and the workplace, where education and health systems are universal and free, and where the elderly are cared for. “We are the world champions of human rights, of data protection, and we don’t have the death penalty,” he affirmed as if no violations of these occur in the EU, noting that while pieces of this might be found elsewhere, the full picture of these values is unique to Europe.

Margaritis Schinas’ speech at the European Parliament attempted to give a powerful reminder of the values that are meant to underpin Europe’s identity: freedom, democracy, tolerance, and unity. By addressing the challenges of religious intolerance and defending religious freedoms, both within Europe and abroad, Schinas reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to upholding its core principles, even if these kind and powerful words need still to be brought to visible and efficient action. His message was clear: the European way of life is not about division or exclusion, but about inclusivity, diversity, and respect for all. This should mean not just for Christians, Jewish, Muslims and Atheists, but also for Baha’is, Hindus, Scientologists, Sikhs, Buddhists, Freemasons, Jehovah Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Later Day Saints and even Pagans. As he concluded, “You can find bits and pieces of this elsewhere in the world, but all this together you will only find here, and it’s called the European way of life.“

Now, let’s see what the upcoming executives of the European Commission will have to say, and more importantly, what they will do… Will the European Commission continue to not practice what they preach?

Stronger consumer protections needed to address current and emerging harms consumers face online

By
Newsdesk
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0
a toy shopping cart
Photo by Shutter Speed on Unsplash

Nine out of ten consumers have been affected by “dark commercial patterns” – manipulative online design tactics such as countdown timers, hidden fees, and subscription traps that influence consumer behaviour and often lead to unintended purchases or privacy compromises. These deceptive practices are widespread on websites and apps, posing significant risks to consumers worldwide. 

The findings are part of a new OECD survey conducted with over 35 000 respondents across 20 countries. They were presented during the OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting on 8-9 October, where Ministers adopted a Declaration committing to further protecting and empowering consumers in the digital and green transitions. The Declaration underscores the need to act against both current and emerging harms consumers face online, encourages businesses to adopt fair practices, and commits governments to protect all consumers. It places emphasis on those who may be particularly vulnerable, such as children, older consumers and infrequent internet users. Additionally, the Declaration calls for an update to the OECD Recommendation on Consumer Protection in E-commerce to better address the evolving risks and harms in the digital transition. 

“With consumer spending accounting for about 60% of GDP in OECD countries on average, consumer policies have an important role to play in contributing to well-functioning, open and competitive markets by protecting consumers from deceptive, unfair and fraudulent commercial practices and unsafe products, fostering informed consumer decisions and trust, and ensuring a level playing field for businesses, by ensuring fair competition based on quality, price and innovation,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. “Today’s Ministerial Meeting has discussed how policymakers can ensure consumer policies help people navigate these new digital and green products, services and options, by adapting to new technology-related risks, by continuing to prioritise consumer safety, and by ensuring consumer policies are well co-ordinated with other relevant areas, such as competition, digital and environmental policies.” 

The OECD also announced the launch of the Global Forum on Consumer Policy. This new forum will bring together policy makers, academics, civil society, businesses, and experts in an inclusive network to collaborate on consumer issues, behavioural economics, technological trends, and emerging consumer policy research.  

Participants also addressed ways to protect and empower consumers making sustainable consumption decisions and tackle new consumer product safety risks. A part of the discussion was the safe and responsible use of lithium-ion batteries. With a growing number of safety incidents involving these batteries, the OECD and its members are launching an awareness campaign on their safe and responsible use. The global lithium-ion battery market is projected to reach USD 307.8 billion by 2032, up from USD 59.8 billion in 2022, underscoring the urgency of these efforts. 

For more information on the outcomes of the OECD Consumer Policy Ministerial Meeting, please visit: https://oe.cd/consumer24.  

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

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