CUE Academic Staff Member Participates in The 2024 International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Berlin.
Dr. Aziz Emmanuel al-Zebari, CUE academic staff member from Department of English Language attended recently the “The 2024 International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)” held in Berlin, Germany, for October 8th and 9th, 2024. Important among the various sessions held during the conference was an academic session that was led by co-chairs of IRF Secretariat’s Global Academic Council. The session focused on fostering thoughtful dialogue and advancing the global research on religious freedom. The session introduced a Purpose Statement that outlined guidelines for establishing a respectful platform for important discussions, focusing on policies that prioritize truth over ideology. It also explored strategies for creating a strong research agenda and effective measures for assessing success.
Presenters shared a comprehensive landscape report summarizing current research and scholarship in the field, as well as a roadmap for future academic contributions. A foundation for a forward-looking research agenda was also provided during the session addressing gaps and setting new directions for religious freedom studies.
During the session Dr. Aziz Emmanuel Al- Zebari made a presentation on the role the Catholic University in Erbil has been playing in promoting values of religious freedom and social co-existence by creating an inclusive environment, educating students on religious and cultural diversity, advocating for human rights, and fostering an inclusive campus culture where students from various faiths can come together to learn and discuss issues of religion and belief. Dr. Al- Zebari also pointed to the anti-discrimination policy the university has been adopting to develop clear policies against discrimination based on religion or belief, emphasizing that by incorporating these practices, the CUE has managed to create a community that values religious freedom, fosters mutual respect, and prepares students to uphold these principles in broader society.
