“The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom:
Japan is Setting a Dangerous Precedent“

Dr. Aaron Rhodes delivered the speech on September 25th during a Special Briefing held on the sidelines of the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

I would first like to reference Patricia Duval’s report, which I find to be both clear and scientific. Over several decades of involvement in human rights work, one of my key objectives has been to examine the ethos of the human rights community and activism. I have always sought to promote an objective and scientific approach to this work. This perspective is rooted in the legacy of the Russian dissident human rights movement, which included scientists—both from the humanistic and natural sciences—who viewed human rights advocacy as a process of objectively assessing the actions of states against their international commitments, such as the Helsinki Accords.

These dissidents emphasized the importance of remaining detached from any political interests. As a result, the human rights community ideally exists as an independent entity that views human rights issues from an external, neutral perspective. Of course, this is a difficult ideal to uphold, as we all have personal commitments—whether religious, political, or otherwise. Nevertheless, this report exemplifies an objective approach. Patricia Duval is not a member of the Unification Church, nor am I, but she recognizes that what is happening in Japan is a clear violation of human rights. I don’t believe any reasonable person could read her report without concluding that Japan is, indeed, violating the right to freedom of religion.

The pressing question now is: What can we do about it?

As Mr. Kondo has explained, Japan presents a particularly challenging case due to its conformist society and the reluctance of authorities and media to take any stance that might be unpopular. Religious freedom is one of the most critical human rights. While some might argue that all human rights are equally important, I personally believe that religious freedom holds a unique significance. It forms the foundation for moral orientations by which individuals determine right and wrong in their daily lives. As such, it impacts many other human rights.

Globally, the state of religious freedom is in dire straits.

According to a recent Pew Foundation report, religious groups are harassed in 183 countries, mostly minority groups. It is important to remember that every religion is a minority somewhere in the world. This insight was underscored by William Walsh, a leading religious freedom advocate who unfortunately passed away a few years ago.

I currently work within the framework of the NGO Forum for Religious Freedom Europe (FOREF), and we are engaged in several serious cases. In China, for instance, religious groups are being forced to align with Communist Party doctrine under a process known as the “Sinicization” of religion. Sacred symbols are being removed, and the government is essentially trying to create a religion without God. Over a million Uyghurs are detained due to their religious beliefs. The Falun Gong face brutal oppression, including forced organ harvesting. Christians are regularly arrested, and the Unification Church is banned, labeled as a “cult.”

In Russia, the repression of minority religions continues, with only a few state-approved religions recognized, while others are denied their rights. In 2017, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Jehovah’s Witnesses extremists, leading to hundreds of criminal cases, with many imprisoned and their homes raided. Labeling Jehovah’s Witnesses as extremists is, frankly, absurd.

In many Islamic societies, freedom of religion is also severely restricted.

In 12 countries, apostasy is punishable by death. Some of these countries are even members of the UN Human Rights Council. Twenty nations impose criminal penalties for questioning the state’s interpretation of Islam. I recall visiting Geneva a few years ago with a small organization advocating for the rights of Muslims to change their religion, “Set My People Free.” We requested meetings with 20 or 30 delegations, but not a single one accepted. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also showed little interest. This issue seems too politically sensitive for many.

In Pakistan, armed extremist gangs are targeting members of the Ahmadi Muslim community, incited by a prominent Sunni scholar’s call to kill Ahmadis. The Pakistani government has done little to stop these atrocities, and we are deeply concerned about the potential for a large-scale massacre. Patricia Duval and I recently traveled to Bangladesh to investigate a case of violence against the Ahmadi community there.

The situation in Japan poses a global threat to religious freedom.

See Also

ARMENIA: Apostolic Church Under Attack

As a democracy, Japan serves as a model for other countries. If Japan is allowed to continue this behavior unchecked, other democracies may feel emboldened to follow suit. Most of the cases I mentioned earlier occur in authoritarian states, where religious belief is seen as a threat to political power. However, Japan is a liberal democracy, and what is happening there is the most dramatic case of religious discrimination by the government in any liberal democracy today.

We would be deeply grateful if anyone here could help bring this issue to the international stage. The lack of strong international condemnation has allowed this situation to escalate. What was once unthinkable—the dissolution of a religious organization—is now happening because Japan’s allies have largely remained silent. However, as Mr. Kondo mentioned, it is not too late. The courts still have the power to reverse this decision.

We will continue to campaign against the dissolution of the Unification Church, and we hope you will join us in this effort. Thank you very much.

Dr. Aaron Rhodes is a human rights activist and author focused on civil and political rights in the OSCE region, the Middle East, and Asia. He advocates for reform in international human rights discourse. As Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (1993-2007), he also co-founded the Foundation for Human Security in the Middle East, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and the Freedom Rights Project. Since 2014, he has served as president of the Forum for Religious Freedom–Europe.

His book, *The Debasement of Human Rights* (2018), has been widely acclaimed, and his work has appeared in the *Wall Street Journal*, *New York Times*, *Die Zeit*, *Newsweek*, *The National Interest*, and more. Dr. Rhodes contributes to human rights education and advises international organizations, governments, and media. He draws on extensive experience in politics, academia, and advocacy to address challenges within the human rights field.