The International Coalition for Religious Freedom is a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin. ICRF acknowledges with gratitude that, at the current time, it receives the bulk of its funding from institutions and individuals related to the Unification Church community. Contributions to ICRF are tax-exempt under section 501-c-3 of the Internal Revenue Code of the USA.

In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which operates as an authoritative guide in the field of human rights. The ICRF seeks to promote the vision of religious freedom found in Article 18 of the Declaration:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, alone or in community with others, and, in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

 

 

International Coalition for Religious Freedom intends to be a leader promoting religious freedom for all people. We believe that every individual and religious entity, of whatever nation or belief, possesses the right to freedom of religious belief and expression as his or her conscience leads. This right, of course, must be balanced against the requirements of generally applicable criminal law. In fulfilling its task, ICRF will build on and bring to the international level the successful work of its predecessor, the Coalition for Religious Freedom, which has worked so diligently since its founding in 1984 to promote religious freedom in the United States

Sadly, in this era when humankind is making progress on so many fronts, discrimination against persons of faith and the institutions to which they belong is rampant, and tragically, not merely in the nondemocratic nations. Democratic nations such as Germany, France and Russia have a curious blind spot when it comes to freedom for smaller religions within their borders. It is the treatment of these smaller, politically powerless groups which, of course, is the acid test for religious freedom in any nation.

The eminent French sociologist, Emile Durkheim, analyzed the realm of religion - the sacred - and noted that it is not subject to the empirical verification available in the everyday world of the profane. This distinction is crucial to understanding that government simply has no role in dictating or denying religious belief and expression since they are outside the regulatory competence of the state, which must necessarily deal in the realm of the empirical.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. ICRF will seriously consider any corrections or objections made from responsible individuals, institutions or governments regarding the claims made in our reports.

Dan Fefferman
President
International Coalition for Religious Freedom

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