More than 30 political and academic leaders from a number of Eastern European countries met October 10 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters. The group met under the auspices of the International Religious Liberty Association, in order to meet and talk informally about issues impacting religious freedom in this region of Europe.

“The reception and dinner provided an excellent opportunity to share information and to become acquainted with both personnel and issues of vital importance,” said Dr. John Graz, IRLA secretary general and director of the church’s Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty.

Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison director for the Adventist church, commented on the value of talking directly to representatives from Turkey, Slovenia, and Kazakhstan, among others.

“Here we have unprecedented access to government and other representatives who can give us a fuller picture of what is happening in such areas,” he added. “Such interviews provide a far greater understanding of the complexities of religious freedom and the continuing importance of stressing this vital human right.”

Adventists are among those who are concerned over the recent Belarusian law, which, if signed by the president, will impose restrictions on many religious minorities. According to a professor of Belarusian Center for Constitutionalism and Comparative Legal Studies, religious communities must have at least 20 members in order to be legally registered.  The process of printing religious materials is another complicated process as the new law will require each religious community to be a member of a religious association before permission for printing or bringing in missionaries will be granted.

The October 10 meeting was just one stop on the group’s tour of the United States. The visit is part of the Ninth Annual International Law and Religion Symposium conducted by the Brigham Young University’s International Center for Law and Religion Studies.