Parliamentarians Meet On Religious Freedom

In the face of rising religious persecution of people on the grounds of faith or belief, over 100 parliamentarians from almost 50 countries met in New York City on Sept. 18 and 19 to discuss ways to advance freedom of religion or belief. The event was cosponsored by the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief, a network launched last year in response to the rising crisis of religion- or belief-based persecution by both terrorist groups and authoritarian governments. “There is a global crisis for freedom of religion or belief,” said Baroness Elizabeth Berridge of the United Kingdom, a member of the I.P.P. steering group. “An international problem requires an international response.... Collective action is needed now more than ever.”