News Desk
Geneva, March 11, 2025
Professor Shahid Mobeen, President of the Italian Consultation for Religious Freedom or Belief, addressed a side event during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva. The event, organized by the Jubilee Campaign, focused on “Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Prohibition of Torture in Pakistan, Eritrea, Nicaragua, and Sudan.” Discussions centered on the role of the UN and its member states in safeguarding religious freedom and preventing human rights violations.
Professor Mobeen conveyed greetings from Italy’s Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, Davide Dionisi, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. He emphasized the Italian Consultation’s commitment to fostering dialogue between academic, diplomatic, and international institutions to protect religious freedom.
Highlighting the severity of religious persecution worldwide, Mobeen cited reports from the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea. He called for concrete measures to enhance protections against religious persecution and prevent torture.
“Despite a global commitment to justice and victims’ rights, serious abuses persist—not only by state and government authorities but also by ideologically motivated groups that radicalize public officials and incite hate mobs for political, economic, and religious purposes,” Mobeen stated.
He also stressed the need for educational reforms in various countries to counter radicalization through interreligious dialogue. “In some school systems, curricula have been used to incite hatred from an early age. A thorough review is necessary, incorporating studies on the history of religions and intercultural dialogue to promote mutual respect and human dignity,” he said.
Mobeen further urged the European Union to fill the vacant position of Special Envoy for Religious Freedom outside Europe, underscoring the importance of European leadership in defending religious minorities.
UN Special Rapporteur Nazila Ghanea also spoke at the event, detailing the link between religious freedom and torture. She reiterated her recommendations to the Human Rights Council, urging member states to strengthen protections for persecuted religious communities.
Joseph Janssen, Advocacy Officer for the Jubilee Campaign, highlighted significant human rights concerns in Pakistan, including the misuse of blasphemy laws against religious minorities, forced conversions and marriages of underage girls, and widespread bonded labor affecting an estimated 4.5 million people in brick kilns. “The international community cannot remain silent on these issues. We need strong anti-discrimination and anti-slavery laws to protect victims,” he said.
Human rights activist Elsa Chyrum addressed religious persecution in Eritrea, where churches have operated clandestinely since 2002 and Christians face arbitrary arrests and torture. “It is essential to amplify the voices of victims,” she stated.
Moderated by Janet Epp Buckingham, director of the Geneva office of the World Evangelical League, the event also featured testimonies from survivors and activists, including Mariam Ibrahim from Sudan and Cheick Ould Mkhaitir from Mauritania. Experts such as Thibault Van Den Bossche of the European Centre for Justice and Law discussed the plight of Christians in Nicaragua, while Member of the European Parliament Charlie Weimers represented institutional perspectives on the issue.
The discussion underscored ongoing religious persecution worldwide and called for urgent international action to protect religious minorities and uphold fundamental human rights.