The second annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. June 28-30. The goal of the Summit was to create “a powerful coalition of organizations that operate together for the cause of religious freedom around the world” with the aim of “increasing the public awareness and political strength for the international religious freedom movement.” Find more information about the IRF Summit here.
The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) again this year made significant contributions to the Summit. RFI leadership, staff, and fellows spoke during the following events and sessions:
Tuesday, June 28 beginning at 2:00pm EDT
RFI President Tom Farr, lead author of the Summit Charter, offered framing remarks (adapted and published here) in the first segment of the opening session titled, “Civil Society Congress.”
Wednesday, June 29 beginning at 9:30am EDT
Jeremy Barker, Director of RFI’s Middle East Action Team, discussed technology and persecution in the segment on “Social Media and Opportunities to Advance IRF,” which is part of Plenary 1: “Why IRF Matters in the Modern World.” Andrew Bennett, RFI Senior Fellow, discussed “The Government and Religious Life of Its Citizens” in another segment of Plenary 1.
Wednesday, June 29 at 1:30pm EDT
Nathan Berkeley, RFI Communications Director and Research Coordinator, participated in a breakout session organized by Bellwether International titled, “The IRF Charter: Origins and Opportunities.”
Wednesday, June 29 at 1:30pm EDT
Farahnaz Ispahani, RFI Senior Fellow, participated in a breakout session organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA titled, “The Illusion of Equal Citizenship in Pakistan: Discrimination at the Ballot Box and Beyond.”
Wednesday, Jun 29 at 1:30pm EDT
In an RFI side event, RFI Military Chaplain Fellow Graham Glover and RFI Senior Fellow for Europe Todd Huizinga discussed “Religious Freedom and the Military Chaplaincy.”
Wednesday, June 29 at 2:30pm EDT
RFI co-hosted a side event in partnership with Law and Liberty International, titled “Religious Freedom Under Fire in Ukraine,” featuring RFI Senior Fellows Andrew Bennett and Todd Huizinga.
Wednesday, June 29 at 2:30pm EDT
RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson spoke at a side event hosted by the Bruderhof titled, “Impact of War on Religious Freedom.”
Wednesday, June 29 beginning at 3:30pm
RFI’s Jeremy Barker participated in Plenary 2: “Global IRF Snapshot in 2022” and discuss a positive development story titled, “Multi-Faith Actions in the Public Square” in the Middle East Regional Focus segment.
Thursday, June 30 beginning at 9:15am EDT
RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson and RFI Senior Fellow Farahanaz Ispahani joined in Plenary 3: “IRF and Government Intersections” to discuss “Where We Go From Here.”
Thursday, June 30 at 2:30pm EDT
RFI’s Jeremy Barker joined with RFI Fellow for the Middle East, Salah Ali, in a “MENA Regional Planning Meeting” a breakout session.
Throughout the IRF Summit, RFI’s Jeremy Barker also conducted an “Author’s Corner,” which entailed interviews with authors of recent books and articles on issues pertinent to the Summit. They will be released as part of the Middle East File Podcast and elsewhere.
See the full schedule of events for the 2022 IRF Summit here.
RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson offering remarks during the 2021 IRF Summit.