EU: Launch of the Central Europe Forum for FORB in Washington DC (2)
Contributions of Jan Figel, former EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (Slovakia) and Attila Miklovicz, University of Pécs (Hungary)
By Willy Fautré & Hans Noot, Director and Associate Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers
HRWF (09.02.2026) – On the occasion of the launch of the Central Europe Forum on FORB, sponsored by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) on 4 February in Washington DC, Jan Figel (former EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief) and Attila Miklovicz (University of Pécs) shared some views about a number of issues to be integrated into the future activities of the Forum.
‘We need International Religious Freedom Climate Change’, Jan Figel (Slovakia)
“In many parts of the world, we see ongoing and even growing attacks on faith and religious communities. Trends are worrying also in democratic countries like Japan, Korea, Armenia and others.
Therefore, better effort and more effort is needed from all FoRB defenders – individually and collectively. One particular and essential problem I identify again and again is wrong, incorrect understanding of FoRB as an issue for believers only. We must realize and communicate clearly, that FoRB is for all – believers and non-believers as well. Each human being is homo rationalis, moralis and religiosus, everybody needs freedom of thought, conscience, spirituality and religion. Here unity of people from A to Z is of a fundamental importance.
Concerning the rate of FoRB problems, they vary from intolerance, discrimination and persecution up to genocides. Regrettable, still in XXI Century international community is not able to stand firmly and preventively to fulfil its promise of 1948 “Never Again!” to crime of crimes (Anti-Genocide Convention). Millions of persecuted believers confirm that religious persecution is the most scandalous violation of human rights today. Many more people are threatened by religious oppression than by climate change. But when we listen to major political fora a and the UN Conferences, FoRB is either abandoned or poorly defended today. Therefore, we need International Religious Freedom Climate Change! The objective must be to raise understanding and awareness of its importance for living in peace, security and prosperity.
For such a U-turn in international relations we need to get together efforts of likeminded and committed Governments, Parliamentarians, NGOs and FBOs, including media. They all may create force majeure, powerful and impactful IRF Global Movement, with different, autonomous strands but shared objectives. Communication, cooperation and coordination are sources of impactful synergy.
And here comes Central Europe Forum. Old continent is a great source of both – inspiration and tragic examples of human rights protection and brutal violation. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Austria and other countries of the Central European region are interrelated by memory and history, being under dominance, invasions or occupations, but still able to get back on a road to peace and cooperation. Even today we are located close the fratricidal aggressive war in Ukraine.
Therefore, I am convinced that there is a special role for Central Europe in FoRB protection, defense and cooperation. Together our voice is heard and our actions are more efficient. To be in the heart of Europe is more a mental, political and cultural invitation than just an issue of geography. And FoRB as a central human right is a road to human dignity of all. After decades of communist oppression Central European countries may serve as strong and credible advocates of human dignity and religious freedom for all.
On behalf of FOREF Europe working from Vienna with many partners worldwide, especially in Africa, I wish that the new Central European Forum will serve to this timely and noble cause. All the best to you!”
The historical roots of religious freedom in Hungary, Attila Miklovicz (Hungary)
“Hungary has a long and distinctive tradition of religious freedom. The first European legislation on freedom of religion was adopted by the Hungarian National Assembly in the city of Torda in January 1568. Already in 1557, the Assembly declared that “everyone should live according to their own beliefs, as long as they do so without disturbing those of other religions,” while officially recognizing the Lutheran faith alongside Roman Catholicism. In 1564, the Calvinist faith was accepted, and finally, with the famous Decree of Torda in 1568, the Unitarian Church was added. That decree proclaimed:
“When preachers preach the Gospel in their places, let them proclaim it according to their understanding, and if the congregation wishes to accept it, good; if not, let no one compel them, for their souls will not be at peace. Let them keep the preacher whose teaching they prefer. Therefore, no one shall harm the preachers, and no one shall be reviled for their religion, for faith is a gift from God.”
This was, of course, a rudimentary act. Many faith communities—Christian and non-Christian alike—were still denied equal rights. Yet it was the first initiative of its kind in Europe, and as such it remains a point of historical and moral reference.
Today, even though Freedom of Religion or Belief is “guaranteed” by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights, we still must gather—through governmental and non-governmental cooperation—to make this right a lived reality.
Following a severely anti-religious post-war era, and then two decades marked by one of the most advanced religious freedom frameworks in the 1990s and 2000s, Hungary today presents a Janus-faced reality with regard to Freedom of Religion or Belief. On one side, there is a broad framework of religious freedom and notable international engagement, including the Hungary Helps program supporting persecuted Christians. On the other, there are serious concerns regarding the denial of equal freedom to non-preferential faith communities and minority religions.
As Professor András Máté-Tóth of the University of Szeged has articulated, Central and Eastern Europe carries a wounded collective identity, shaped by shared historical traumas, including the experience of religious persecution.
For this reason, I strongly believe that this Forum is of particular importance in our region. Religious literacy, meaningful engagement, covenantal pluralism, and the positive contribution of religion to society can—and must—be demonstrated. Given how deeply our Central and Eastern European fate has been forged by history, we have the opportunity to set an example together: a positive and forward-looking example in advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief.
I wish this initiative a long and successful future, and I assure you that we, as representatives of Hungary, will do our utmost to contribute to its work.”
Footnote: The titles are those of HRWF
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