United Nations expert Asma Jahangir appealed for greater support in the fight against religious intolerance at a meeting in New York on Oct. 24.
United Nations expert Asma Jahangir appealed for greater support in the fight against religious intolerance at a meeting in New York on Oct. 24.
Jahangir noted that with the limited resources she had, it was not possible to do everything that was needed, but that by partnering with non-government organizations much more could be achieved. She spoke particularly of the dangers of politicization of religion, saying that “politics should not be allowed to overtake people’s right to believe.” She also called on all faith communities to commit themselves to ending religious intolerance, adding that “unless we get the support of all religions at the U.N., the work that I am undertaking will not be achieved.”
In a special plea to Adventists, Jahangir spoke about the church’s role. “I appeal to you—give new hope to people so we can live as a wider humanity, respecting each other’s beliefs and religion.” She commended the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, saying Adventists “have been in the forefront of fighting religious intolerance, wanting a space for every human being to believe what they want to.”
Jahangir, who is the U.N.‘s special rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, intervenes in cases of religious persecution and violence around the world. She herself is no stranger to violence and discrimination, having been the victim of an attack in her home country of Pakistan this year.
“We salute Asma Jahangir’s deep commitment to tackling the growing scourge of religious intolerance,” comments Jonathan Gallagher, the Adventist Church’s representative to the U.N., who was present at the meeting. “The true modern tragedy is that more and more men, women, and children are suffering and dying just because of what they believe. As Christians we are committed to religious liberty for all people everywhere, believing that this speaks so well of the God of freedom.”
