International Study Consultation on
Freedom of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities
World Council of Churches - Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
November 27 to December 2, 2011 – Istanbul, Turkey

An International Study Consultation on Freedom of Religion and the Rights of Religious Minorities drew participants from churches, church related organizations, academia, civil society and human rights organizations and legal professionals from 23 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe. It met from November 27 to December 2, 2011, in Istanbul, Turkey, as part of an international study consultation organized by the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches. His All Holiness, Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew I, welcomed and addressed the participants. The Consultation analysed the situations of rights of religious minorities and freedom of religion in various contexts.

Many of the report are available here in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf):

Consultation Communiqué

Albania
– Ms. Anila Baba, Orthodox Church of Albania

Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
– Rev. Azir Ebenezer, NCC India

Caucasus region (Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
– Mr. Christer Daelander, Religious Freedom representative, European Baptist Federation

Cuba
– Rev. Noel Fernandez, WCC-CCIA Commissioner, Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN)

Egypt
– Rev. Refaat Fikery, Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Eritrea
– Mr.Woldeyesus Ammar, Head of foreign Relations Office, Erithrean People's Democratic Party

Germany
– Prof. Hans-Joachim Heintze, Associate Professor of International Law, University of the Ruhr Bochum

Greece
– Ms. Marina Kolovopoulou, Lecturer of History of Dogmas, University of Athens

Indonesia
– Mr. Tony Wawaruntu , NCC Indonesia

Iraq
– Rev. Yousif Al-Saka, Chairman, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Baghdad

Jordan
– Dr. Audi Qawas, Physician, WCC- CCIA Commissioner

Madagascar, France
– Rev. Jean -Arnold de Clermont, DEFAP, Service Protestant de Mission

Malaysia
– Mr. Andrew Khoo, Legal Advisor, Human Rights Committee

Middle East & North Africa
– Mr. Stephen Carter, Director, Middle East Concern Egypt

Pakistan
– Mr. Naeem Shakir, Lawyer, Supreme Court, Pakistan

Palestine
– Rev. Victor Makari, Diyar Consortium

Serbia
– Bishop Jovan Culibrk, Bishop of Ulpiana, Serbian Orthodox Church

Sweden: Restrictions - Promoting Religious Freedom - Next Steps
– Ms. Katherine Cash, Swedish Mission Council

Syria
– Dr. Nael Georges, Foundation for Inter-religious & Inter-cultural Research and Dialogue

Turkey: History - Issues
– Prof. Dr.Samim Akgönül, University of Strasbourg-CNRS
– Prof. Dr.Cengiz Aktar, Bahcesehir University
– Dr. Dogan Bermek, President, Federation of Alevi Foundations
– Prof. Dr. Emre Oktem, Galatasaray University

United States
– Rev. N. J. L'Heureux Jr., Queens Federation of Churches & National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA