News

Police have refused to protect an Adventist pastor in Nakhichevan, who has been threatened by local men with death or being driven out of the community. "People phone and come to my house to threaten us but the authorities have refused to help," Pastor Khalid Babaev told Forum 18 News Service. Pastor Babaev fears for the safety of his wife and son, and does not know if it will be safe to hold a service as usual next Saturday. Local Muslims have threatened to sacrifice Babaev as a holy duty and to halt Adventist religious activity in Nakhichevan. If Pastor Babaev holds another service, he has been told that a mob will be collected to attack his house. The police have refused to discuss the threats with Forum 18, or say what they would do to protect church members from the threatened violence. (Forum 18)

Annual Meeting of U.S. Church Leaders

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND... At the Febuary 19-20, 2004, annual meeting of the U.S. Church Leaders, Dr. Bert B. Beach represented the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and was asked to make a presentation regarding how church leaders nourish their spiritual life in the midst of pressing administrative concerns. This was in response to Cardinal William Keeler's keynote address. Beach was elected as one of the two organizing co-chairs to prepare for the 2005 meeting, which will take place in Phoenix, Arizona.

Church Representative Condemns Death Penalty for Conversion

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND… Enforcing the death penalty for changing one’s religion or belief is the most extreme form of religious intolerance, according to a statement made at the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights on March 15, 2003, by the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s United Nations Liaison Office.

This year, the Adventist Church and the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) expect to raise the issue again at the Human Rights Commission’s 60th Session. They are also seeking the support of member organizations of the Committee of NGOs on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

On February 10, 2004, Juan Perla, UN liaison officer for the Adventist Church, delivered a statement at the Committee’s meeting, which called on member organizations to co-sign a joint statement denouncing the death penalty for apostasy.

“At the dawn of the 21st century, the death penalty is considered by most civilized nations as an unacceptable punishment,” says Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, UN liaison director for the Adventist Church. “The freedom to change one’s religion or belief is supported in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; however, some states continue to enforce the death penalty for conversion in their legal codes.”

Dr. Gallagher will be attending the Commission for Human Rights 60th Session from March 31 – April 7, 2004, and he will be addressing issues of violations of conscience and religious liberty. [Viola Hughes/Juan Perla]

Netherlands Antilles: Religious Freedom Association Launched

Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles… The Netherlands Antilles Religious Liberty Association was launched on January 31 at a special meeting in the main town, Willemsted.

Though religious freedom is very much a part of the heritage of the islands, it’s recognized that there are increasing problems, worldwide and local. Religious freedom issues are developing in regard to enforcing Sunday observance and other concerns, and due to the initiative of religious leaders such as Pastor Daniel Duffis, the new association has now been launched.

The IRLA is encouraging formation of local religious liberty associations (RLAs) as affiliates of IRLA. The IRLA works as the “umbrella” body to represent the national and regional RLAs to the wider international scene, such as the United Nations.

The newly-elected president of Netherlands Antilles RLA is Errol Maduro, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. He comments, “Religious freedom is a great part of what makes a human being. Here in Curacao we have had religious liberty since the sixteenth century, but because we have not had to fight for it—we have had it as a gift—it is not in the consciousness of the people. We have to make people understand that this is very important.”

Julio Palacio, representing the nearby Venezuela RLA added that “We need to maintain high values and principles—and everyone has the right that these should be respected, along with freedom of conscience. Netherlands-Antilles RLA comes to fill in this gap so that freedom of conscience can be respected. It doesn’t matter what religious faith we profess. We believe that through the RLA this will be effected. RL is important everywhere , not just here in Curacao. We need to educate the people and anticipate the problems of tomorrow, fight to keep the doors open, so that we can freely express our consciences.”

Main local organizer Daniel Duffis stated that “Discussions about Sunday laws are happening in the country now, and we need a national movement to help people understand what this means for religious freedom. This is for all people of all faiths here in Curacao.”

Mario Nino of the IRLA’s regional office in Miami, Florida affirmed the practical nature of the work facing all such associations. “The main challenge in this region is that many countries provide for religious freedom in their constitutions, but in reality in a practical way, we don’t have it! So we need to work with governments, universities, and religious denominations to have a united effort for religious freedom for all. The new RLA is a good thing here—I believe it will give strong support for our religious liberty program.”

The IRLA was represented at the meetings in Curacao by its deputy general secretary, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, who will submit the new association’s request to become an IRLA affiliate to the IRLA board.

Adventists Participate in Culture of Peace Exhibit

New York, NY, February 5, 2004. More than 400 people gathered at the United Nations yesterday to celebrate the opening of "A Culture of Peace for the Children of the World." Organized in conjunction with the United Nations International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence, students worldwide submitted essays and artwork to depict their understanding of peace and nonviolence.

"Why do people hate each other?" asked 8-year-old Susan Maraldi who drew a picture of the World Trade Center Towers.

Stressing the important role the exhibit will play in educating young people about the importance of peace, UN Under-Secretary General Anwarul Chowdhury said, "If young people grow up to incorporate a culture of peace within themselves, the world will be a better place."

In a statement released that day, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said, "It is not enough to send peacekeeping forces to separate warring parties, all of this is essential work, but we want enduring results. We need, in short, a culture of peace."

"Adventists have always sought to promote peace and harmony," comment Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, the Church's UN Liaison director. "We take very seriously Jesus' command to be peacemakers, and we have numerous statements on the importance of peace and non-violence. Violence and war are examples of evil, and all over the world people live in fear. The gospel is the answer to such evils."

UN Liaison officers for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Rachel Bostic and Kelly Razzouk contributed by submitting their "dream of peace." Razzouk wrote that her dream is "a world free from fear." She also added, "a world where children are lulled to sleep by their mother's soothing lullabies and not by the roar of tanks and exploding bombs."

Worldwide, conflict has killed more than 2 million, while some 6 million maimed in conflict situations over the past decade. Over 20 million have been displaced by war. Children in war-zone areas are also subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation. Orphaned in war or separated from their parents, children are profoundly traumatized by the struggle for simple survival. In addition, more than 300,000 children are fighting in 30 countries around the world.

A strong advocate for peace, the Adventist Church's statement of peace (released in 1985) states that "it is right and proper for Christians to promote peace. The Adventist Church urges every nation to beat its swords into plowshares and its spears into pruninghooks (Isa. 2:4). The Church's Bible-based Fundamental Belief No. 7 states that men and women were "created for the glory of God" and were "called to love Him and one another, and to care for their environment," not to destroy or hurt one another.

In a world filled with hate and struggle, a world of ideological strife and of military conflicts, Seventh-day Adventists desire to be known as peacemakers and work for worldwide justice and peace under Christ as the head of a new humanity." [Viola Hughes]

UN Liaison Officers Participate in Non-Violence Conference

New York, NY... More than 200 youth from around New York City gathered for a youth nonviolence conference to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. day.

UN liaison officers, Rachel Bostic and Kelly Razzouk were privileged to conduct a workshop to some youth, entitlted, The Power of One: My Role in Changing the World. "I came to the conference to share insights with these students, but they ended up teaching me so many things," said Razzouk. "Through their eyes I was able to see the problems they face everyday -- drugs, gang wars in school, and lack of positive outlets for them to express their emotions and ideas. I also saw compassion for others and a desire to make a difference in the world."

The Conference was organized by the Mosaic Youth Project and held at the Soka Gakkai International building. [Viola Hughes]