As coalitions negotiate to form a new government in Germany, the president of the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF) is calling for them to see the office of the Commissioner for Religious Freedom as an “essential element” of foreign policy.
Germany’s national election on Feb. 23 saw a significant victory for right-wing groups, as reported by Christian Daily International. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), secured the largest vote share, 33 percent, for seats in the 733-member Bundestag, according to Reuters. The election marked the highest voter turnout since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
IIRF President Thomas Schirrmacher said in a press statement that the commissioner role would be needed even in a future CDU/CSU and Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition. Schirrmacher, former secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance, pointed out that religious freedom issues in Nigeria, India, Syria, Israel and Palestine, alongside the general global threat to religious minorities, show that Germany’s commitment to religious freedom is “of the utmost importance.”
In Germany, Schirrmacher said freedom of belief is “part of the DNA of the Grundgesetz, or “Basic Law” of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. Article 4 states: “Freedom of faith and of conscience and freedom to profess any religious creed or worldview shall be inviolable.”
“There are many states that trample on freedom of religion or belief,” said Schirrmacher. “There are many states for which the issue is meaningless. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of states that are instrumentalizing the issue for party political or religious political purposes, not least the USA at present. Accordingly, a corresponding office there is usually a plaything of the respective governing parties and comes and goes with changes of government or is redefined in each case.”
Schirrmacher by comparison called Germany a “foreign policy heavyweight” in its approach to standing up for freedom of religion and belief. He pointed out that keeping that human right is a stand-alone legal requirement of great importance, regardless of party-political disputes.
“In addition, the office of the commissioner plays a central role in interreligious dialogue and has a major influence for good on countries that define themselves very strongly in religious terms,” said Schirrmacher.
Since more than 80 percent of the world’s population belong to a religious faith, and most non-religious people are strongly motivated by a worldview, it is particularly important for foreign policy that their motivations have a visible place in state and politics, he said.
“The office of the commissioner can do this very effectively without promoting or favoring a particular religion or ideology, which would be contrary to our self-image as laid down in the constitution,” he said.
Germany’s foreign policy benefits from such knowledge when the country deals with “highly religious countries,” according to Schirrmacher, who pointed out examples such as Nigeria and India. He said the commissioner role is aligned with the work of the Foreign Ministry and German embassies.
“In times of serious international crises and challenges, the successful work of the Commissioner for Religious Freedom of the German government must not be stifled,” said Schirrmacher. “That would send a disastrous signal. Rather, global advocacy for religious freedom and human rights must stand out right now as a hallmark of German foreign and development policy.”
