IIRF Updates
The abduction and forced marriage of girls as a weapon against minorities
Statement by Thomas Schirrmacher: The abduction and forced marriage of girls as a weapon against religious and ethnic minorities
Schirrmacher promotes interfaith dialogue and human brotherhood in Abu Dhabi
Prof Dr Dr Thomas Paul Schirrmacher, President of the IIRF and President of the International Society for Human Rights, held a series of high-level discussions in Abu Dhabi covering the fields of academia, politics and religion.
Groundbreaking new anthology on “Religious Freedom in an Era of Global Change”
The book ‘Religious Freedom in a Changing World’ brings together analyses of the normative foundations, global realities, and current challenges facing religious freedom.
Anthology on theological perspectives on religious persecution launched at FIUC in Oslo
The launch of the anthology took place during the symposium “Religious Persecution and Theological/Missiological Education” at FIUC, co‑organized with the IIRF
The IIRF mourns the recent passing of Prof. Pieter Coertzen
By Christof Sauer and Thomas Schirrmacher, founding directors of IIRF
From China to India to Islam: Top Scholars Address Religious Freedom in a Changing World
Volker Kauder, Dennis P. Petri, Carsten Polanz (ed.). Religionsfreiheit in Zeiten des globalen Wandels / Religious Freedom in a Changing World. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2026. ISBN 978-3-374-08047-2.
Statements
Audit Statement on the outcomes of the Open Doors World Watch List 2026
The IIRF releases the audit statement of the World Watch List 2026 of Open Doors International
Coalition Letter to the Trump Administration Supporting U.S. Sponsorship of the R20 Summit During the 2026 G20 Presidency
Mr. President, we respectfully urge you to direct the appropriate agencies under your command to
recognize the R20 Summit as part of America’s G20 presidency in 2026.
Audit statement of the World Watch List 2025
The IIRF releases the audit statement of the World Watch List 2025 of Open Doors International
IIRF joins organizations’ call to ensure respect for religious freedom in Nigeria
The International Institute for Religious Freedom call for the immediate release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.
Audit statement of the World Watch List 2023 published
The IIRF releases the audit statement of the World Watch List 2023 of Open Doors International
SIGN: Calling Cuba government to invite UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB for a country visit
We write to urge your Government to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to visit Cuba.
Religious Freedom News
WEA Secretary General speaks about Evangelical priorities at the International Religious Freedom Roundtable
Press release by the World Evangelical Alliance
Correcting the religious freedom narrative in Nigeria
This essay originally appeared as a post by Dennis Petri on the Five4Faith Substack on April 16. Image source: ADF International.
Anti-Semitism—Christian, Islamic, Secular
On the history of the violation and denial of religious freedom for Jews
“FoRB and the European Union”
ISFORB International Conference, 7-8 May 2026 ETF Leuven, Belgium
Focus on religious freedom: Swiss churches sign joint declaration
In his keynote speech, Thomas Schirrmacher emphasizes that no state can function without religious freedom