News

Romania: Adventists Prepare European Integration

March 27, 2003

Silver Spring, MD, [PARL news]. Having just returned from a 10-day trip from Romania, Dr. John Graz, director for the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty reported that Seventh-day Adventists in Romania are actively supporting a campaign to help prepare local and regional authorities integrate into the European Union.

European integration is an important issue for Romania, especially when it comes to adjusting the national legislation to the European one. Even if the majority of the population are in favor of it, many believe the country may lose its identity. Religious freedom is a very sensitive aspect, which has created confusion and misinterpretation at the local and regional level of the Romanian society.

The campaign, organized by the Conscience and Liberty Association and supported by the Adventist Church, began in 2001 and has covered 35 cities in Romania. High-level participants included army chiefs, prefects, presidents of educational institutions, academia, and religious leaders. The last three symposiums were held in the cities of Botosani, Vaslui, and Baia, on March 12-17, 2003, respectively.

"To witness such a combination of participants is very encouraging when Adventists make up only 0.4% of the population, yet as a religious minority we are playing an important role in helping to improve quality of life for communities in all these cities," said Viorel Dima, director for the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Adventist church in Romania.

Dr. John Graz, who was a guest speaker commented, "We commend Adventists in Romania for their leadership and insight in organizing such dialogues with government officials and others from the religious community," Graz added.

In the Cities of Vaslui and Bucharest, Graz was able to complete TV interviews on religious freedom, the impact 9-11 has created for religious freedom, and the Iraqi crises.

The Department of Public Affairs will continue to work with government agencies, other non-governmental organizations, and faith communities in promoting principles of tolerance and peace, especially in this time of turbulence and violence. [Viola Hughes]

U.S. State Department Issues List of Religious Freedom Violators; Some Key Violators Not Listed.

March 10, 2003

Silver Spring, Maryland... [PARL news]. Reacting to the newly released State Department list of religious freedom violators, attorney James Standish expressed concern at the U.S. action not to designate countries who have seriously violated religious freedom, such as India, Laos, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Sudan.

"While we appreciate the work of the U.S. State Department in advancing religious freedom, we are naturally disappointed that some of the world's most egregious violators of liberty of conscience were not identified in the State Department's list this year," commented Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "We meet frequently with State Department representatives, and will continue to press for all nations that are involved in systematic, serious violations of religious freedom be held accountable for their violations of human rights."

Reports from the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) provided gruesome accounts and evidence of harassment, torture, imprisonments, and even killings in many of these countries. Other non-governmental organizations and human rights agencies have also released similar reports. Religious freedom is non-existent in Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Sudan.

"As a Church, we are appalled at the rising wave of religious violence that is engulfing the world," comments Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, U.N. liaison director for the Adventist Church. "These issues will be addressed at the upcoming session of the U.N. Commission for Human Rights in Geneva," Gallagher added. "We will do all we can to ensure religious freedom for all people everywhere. Religious freedom is a basic human right as guaranteed in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Seventh-day Adventist members have also experienced religious intolerance in some of these countries. In 1999, the Adventist church in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan was bulldozed by city officials, worship services interrupted, and members harassed. One church member was evicted from her apartment for holding mid-week meetings in her private home.

"Our members and those without a voice look to communities like the Adventists to add our voices and resources to this global battle against the forces of evil intimidation and persecution. We shall continue to press the State Department to re-assess the religious freedom violations in those countries," Standish concluded. [Viola Hughes]