Serbia: Adventist Pastor Remains Hospitalized After Attack

Adventist pastor Josip Tikvicki remains hospitalized

Belgrade, Serbia [PARL news]. Seventh-day Adventist pastor Josip Tikvicki remains hospitalized with a concussion to the head, several fractured ribs, and a broken jaw after being attacked on April 15 when he attempted to stop some individuals from attacking his church. Police found Josip unconscious in front of the church, which is about 40 miles northeast of the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

"I was shocked when I received the news about my colleague and the suffering he has gone through. The whole Adventist Church, together with other protestant churches, joined together over the weekend in prayer for our colleague and his family," said Dr. Radisa Antic, president of the Adventist Church in Serbia.

"This, however, is not an isolated incident. I am deeply concerned about what is happening to our churches across the country. In the last 10 days our central church in Belgrade was stoned twice, along with the church in the cities of Kragujevac, Negotin, Smederevo, and Backa Palanka. Obviously these are not coincidences, but rather orchestrated attacks by some organizations that are targeting religious minorities."

Leaders of the Adventist Church immediately contacted government officials, including the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Minorities. Adventist News Review (the Adventist news agency stationed in England) has learned that the secretary of the ministry, Zoran Martinovic, visited Pastor Josip in the hospital. Government officials have promised to release an official statement about the attacks.

"We are contacting both the Serbian government and the UN regarding these attacks which are clearly religiously motivated," adds Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, UN liaison director for the Adventist Church. "Such serious violations of religious freedom must be immediately addressed and the perpetrators dealt with in order to ensure continued freedom of religion and conscience in the country."

The Adventist community in Serbia is highly concerned about these latest attacks and feel threatened and insecure. Protestants make up only 1 percent of the population in Serbia. There are about 10,000 Seventh-day Adventist church members in Serbia. Adventists are considered the fastest growing mainstream Protestant denominations in Serbia. [Viola Hughes]

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Church Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Justice at Commission on Human Rights
April 8, 2003

Dr. Gianfranco Rossi, Geneva UN representative for the Church.

Geneva, Switzerland... Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church reaffirmed commitment to the principles of peace and justice during the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights meeting at the United Nations in Geneva.

In a prepared statement read to the Commission on April 3, Dr. Gianfranco Rossi, Geneva UN representative for the Church, affirmed that it was "madness to use religion as an instrument of terror and death," and that "the true spirit of religion supports justice, brotherhood, peace and life." Quoting twice from the Bible, the statement reminded the Commission of the concept of peacemaking: "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," and "the work of justice shall be peace." (Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 32:17).

Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, UN liaison director for the Adventist Church, in Geneva.

"Noting the many areas of conflict round the world with the consequent violations of human rights, many nations deplored the huge loss of life in both violent conflicts and in state-sponsored persecution," comments Dr Jonathan Gallagher, UN Liaison director for the Church, also attending the Commission. "One lamentable fact emerged from the discussion: worldwide, more people die at the hands of their own governments than from any other cause of violent death. Additionally, inter-religious conflict was cited by many speakers as a primary cause of many human rights violations."

The statement, based on an official declaration of the Church on the subject of peace, recommended that the Commission on Human Rights "not underestimate the importance of religion in education for human rights and for peace. It should encourage and support inter-religious dialogue to combat religious extremism, which is one of the major causes of the conflict that currently afflict humanity."

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Religious Freedom Advocates Honored During a Time of War and Turbulence
April 7, 2003

L to R: Dr. Graz, Dr. Hodges and Pastor Morgan.

Silver Spring, MD, USA...[IRLA news]."Religious freedom is woven into the heart of what makes us Americans," said John Hanford, United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, in his opening address at the Religious Freedom Awards Dinner on April 2.

The dinner was jointly sponsored by Liberty Magazine, International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the North American (NARLA) Chapter of the IRLA. It was held in the beautiful Russell Senate Caucus Room, where the Watergate trials were also held.

"The event provided an unprecedented opportunity to present our religious liberty program, and Liberty magazine in particular, before a wide cross-section of diplomats, legislators, and religious liberty activists," said Lincoln Steed, Liberty magazine editor.

Victor Krushenitsky, one of the honorees from Moscow, Russia.

Those honored at the dinner were Congressman Christopher Smith, Victor Krushenitsky (Russia), the Honorable Grant Ipsen (Idaho), Gerald Chipeur (Canada), Dr. Adrian Westney (Maryland), Lee Boothby (D.C.), Lewis Stout (Georgia), Arthur Morgan (New York), Daniel Robles (California), Robert McCumber (Colorado), and Penny Ancel (Michigan). Also in attendance were ambassadors from several countries.

Dr. Adrian Westney received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding religious liberty work.

"These individuals have played a pivotal role in advancing religious freedom in the various communities they serve in, and we were honored by their presence," said Dr. John Graz, IRLA secretary-general. "Conflicts often arise because of lack of tolerance, and it was a good reminder to everyone present that we must continue in our fight to promote principles of tolerance and religious freedom."

Congressman Smith, who has been involved in politics for 23 years, commented that, "Governments exist to protect basic fundamental rights like religious freedom."

The IRLA hopes the initiative taken in organizing such an event will continue to raise awareness of religious liberty issues in North America. The IRLA is a non-sectarian association, chartered in 1893, to promote principles of religious freedom around the world. For more information, visit www.irla.org. [Viola Hughes]

Ambassador Hanford giving his speech.	Dr. Adrian Westney receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award
L to R: Lee Boothy (one of the honorees) with Dr. Graz and Krushenitsky	Dr. Graz congratulating Congressman Smith
Greg Hamilton (from the North Pacific Union region) with Senator Ipsen (Idaho)

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Adventists Students Take a Stand for Religious Freedom
April 7, 2003

Silver Spring, MD...[PARL news]. Exams are a part of life that most college students regard as little more than a minor inconvenience. But for three Seventh-day Adventist students at Makerere University in Uganda, their exams have become a matter of conscience and religious freedom.

On January 25, a Saturday, Sharon Dimache, a senior law student, Luck Nansereko, a second-year urban planning major, and Gilphine Mokeira Omwega, a freshman law student, did not show up for exams. Saturday (Sabbath) is the day that Adventists regard as their holy day for a time of prayer and Christian fellowship.

The students' decision to miss the exams was not one that was made lightly. They spoke with the lecturers involved as well as the university deans to try and reschedule the exams on an alternate day.

Regrettably, their request was denied.

Because of their decision not to take the test, all three students are now being asked to repeat an entire year of schooling. With the help of several lawyers, the students have now decided to file a case for redress against the university for not respecting their right to freedom of conscience and belief.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership in Uganda has voiced support for Sharon, Luck and Gilphine for standing up for their beliefs.

"[We] assessed the situation of the students and were very convinced that the way forward chosen by the students in counsel with the Church was the right one," said Mutuku J. Mutinga, Director for the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty in Uganda. "All other avenues had been exhausted."

Adventist leaders abroad have also voiced approval of the students' actions and regret over their situation.

"Over the years, many Adventist students in many parts of the world have faced similar situations, and we will continue to work with governments and educational institutions to help them promote understanding of religious tolerance," commented Dr. John Graz, Director for the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. [Katie Galbraith/Viola Hughes]

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