9 April 2024 –

Dear Member of the European Parliament,

The European Union is more than just an economic construct, fundamental freedoms are part and parcel of the European project. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion (often abbreviated to Freedom of Religion or Belief, or FoRB) is an important right for all, not only for religious groups. Together with Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, it is a crucial pillar of any democracy.

We, the European Platform against Religious Intolerance and Discrimination (EPRID), are a diverse network of civil society organisations (CSOs), including religious and non-religious (non-confessional) associations that collectively promote FoRB in the world as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international human rights instruments.

We respectively call on you to join us in defending and promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, both inside and outside the European Union. 

Please find attached a statement re: Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the European Union and Internationally, drafted and unanimously agreed between the members of EPRID. Coming from different faith, belief or non-faith backgrounds, we politely urge you to publicly support our statement as a pledge to ensure that everyone across the globe, no matter background, is free to enjoy their right to FoRB as part of their human dignity.

Your support will do more than just protect and support faith or belief communities and individuals. It will also foster independent and critical thinking, challenge autocratic regimes and strengthen democracies. 

We thank you for your attention and we hope to receive expression of your support for this statement by responding to this email soon.

P.S. As the Board of Coordinators of EPRID, we would also be pleased to meet with you, at your convenience, to discuss the above priorities. Let us know if it is of interest to you.

Kind regards,

EPRID members:

Association Internationale pour la Défense de la Liberté Religieuse
Bahá’í International Community
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Conference of European Churches
European Evangelical Alliance
European Union Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Mensen met een Missie
Middle East Concern
Open Doors International
Quê Me: Vietnam Committee on Human Rights/International Buddhist Information Bureau