OTTAWA — Andrew Bennett admits some foreign governments don’t necessarily like what he has to say.
Since being named Canada’s first ambassador for religious freedom in March, Bennett has publicly criticized Egypt for failing to protect Coptic Christians, condemned Iran’s treatment of Baha’is, and offered support to Muslims in Sri Lanka.
He has called for reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic, launched projects in Nigeria, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, and tried to start a “frank and open” discussion on religious freedom with Turkish authorities.
Some of his actions and interventions have been more welcome abroad than others. For example, he describes Turkey’s reaction to his overtures as “mixed.”
“I think there’s always going to be a sensitivity on the part of countries,” Bennett says as he sits in his new office at Foreign Affairs headquarters. “‘Well Canada, you’re coming in here and suggesting that we do something different to what we’re doing.’”
But Bennett says Canada shouldn’t worry about “push back” because, as he says, “these are really principles that speak to a universal objective truth.”
“So I think we need to be able to really feel confident.”
The Conservative government’s decision to establish an Office of Religious Freedom was first enunciated during the 2011 federal election campaign, at which point there were concerns about linking religion and Canadian foreign policy.
Bennett argues the advancement of religious freedom is part and parcel of the broader push to bolster human rights around the world, which is something Canada has always done — and will continue to do.
“People will often sort of ask me: Why religious freedom?” he says. “And I always point to that: It’s part of Canada’s defence of human rights.
“Religious freedom exists in concert with other rights and other freedoms, whether it’s freedom of expression, freedom of association, legal and democratic rights, equality of men and women.”
Then why not a human rights ambassador?
While Bennett says that’s a question for the government, he argues Canada’s experience as a multi-faith, multi-ethnic country combined a global trend towards increased religious persecution make the focus on religious freedom both relevant and timely.
“Seventy-five per cent of the world’s population live under high or very high restrictions on religious freedom or in situations of high or very high social hostility against people of faith,” he says, citing the Pew Research Center’s research.
“And this has been increasing over the years. In 2011, it was only about 70 per cent. So we see a trend.”
There have been fears the office will be used to advance a Christian agenda, or to bolster support for the government in key voter demographics, such as Coptic Christians in Toronto or Ismaili Muslims in Calgary.
There’s no question where Bennett’s focus has been in the nine months since arriving on job, at least in terms of public condemnations and criticisms as Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Iran have all been raised numerous times.
Is the fact each has a Christian community under threat, or a large voter bloc in Canada, a coincidence?
Bennett, a Christian college dean and former public servant, says he has consulted most faith communities in Canada since taking up his post, “and a lot of them are fairly large diaspora communities from certain countries.”
“And so certainly, when they meet with me, they’re particularly concerned about their community.”
Bennett, a Catholic, also argues Christians are being disproportionately affected by religious persecution, citing reports produced by the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center that say about 200 million Christians around the world are living in or under threat of persecution.
“That’s one in 10 Christians in the world,” he says. “So I know for various churches and Christian denominations here in Canada, they’re very concerned that Canada have a voice about the persecution of Christians.”
Yet he also says he feels an obligation to “speak up and speak out on all the different communities that are facing persecution.”
“We’re guided by where we see particularly egregious violations of religious freedom taking place in the world, regardless of what community that’s affecting,” he says.
Bennett says he doesn’t have the resources to work in every country, so his office is focusing on where the need is most acute, and where Canada has some strategic interest or influence.
Issuing public statements and critiques is also only one part of what his office is doing.
The Office of Religious Freedom comes with an annual budget of $5 million, including a $4-million Religious Freedom Fund for activities outside Canada.
Bennett says the money, some of which has already been committed to projects in Nigeria, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, offers an opportunity to make a difference both quietly, and in countries that want nothing to do with him.
“Kazakhstan is one of our countries of focus,” he says. “And by focusing on Kazakhstan, we also hope to have some engagement in other Central Asian republics where Canada really doesn’t have a great deal of engagement.”
The fund isn’t just for conferences and research on religious tolerance and interreligious dialogue, but is also to provide material support such as legal assistance, training and awareness campaigns for religious communities that are facing persecution or discrimination.
Bennett says a recent call for project proposals netted more than 100 submissions, with the winners to be announced in the new year.
“We’re not interested in pure talking shops,” he says. “We want concrete outcomes that lead to some sort of sustained engagement and actually move the goalposts a bit.”
And for those countries that still don’t want anything to do with him and his mission?
“There’s certain countries, let’s face it, it’s going to be hard to engage with them,” he says. “Whether we’re speaking about Iran, or in some cases even with China. So we need to look at other means to advance freedom of religion in those countries.”
Original Article
Source: canada.com/
Author: Lee Berthiaume
Since being named Canada’s first ambassador for religious freedom in March, Bennett has publicly criticized Egypt for failing to protect Coptic Christians, condemned Iran’s treatment of Baha’is, and offered support to Muslims in Sri Lanka.
He has called for reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic, launched projects in Nigeria, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, and tried to start a “frank and open” discussion on religious freedom with Turkish authorities.
Some of his actions and interventions have been more welcome abroad than others. For example, he describes Turkey’s reaction to his overtures as “mixed.”
“I think there’s always going to be a sensitivity on the part of countries,” Bennett says as he sits in his new office at Foreign Affairs headquarters. “‘Well Canada, you’re coming in here and suggesting that we do something different to what we’re doing.’”
But Bennett says Canada shouldn’t worry about “push back” because, as he says, “these are really principles that speak to a universal objective truth.”
“So I think we need to be able to really feel confident.”
The Conservative government’s decision to establish an Office of Religious Freedom was first enunciated during the 2011 federal election campaign, at which point there were concerns about linking religion and Canadian foreign policy.
Bennett argues the advancement of religious freedom is part and parcel of the broader push to bolster human rights around the world, which is something Canada has always done — and will continue to do.
“People will often sort of ask me: Why religious freedom?” he says. “And I always point to that: It’s part of Canada’s defence of human rights.
“Religious freedom exists in concert with other rights and other freedoms, whether it’s freedom of expression, freedom of association, legal and democratic rights, equality of men and women.”
Then why not a human rights ambassador?
While Bennett says that’s a question for the government, he argues Canada’s experience as a multi-faith, multi-ethnic country combined a global trend towards increased religious persecution make the focus on religious freedom both relevant and timely.
“Seventy-five per cent of the world’s population live under high or very high restrictions on religious freedom or in situations of high or very high social hostility against people of faith,” he says, citing the Pew Research Center’s research.
“And this has been increasing over the years. In 2011, it was only about 70 per cent. So we see a trend.”
There have been fears the office will be used to advance a Christian agenda, or to bolster support for the government in key voter demographics, such as Coptic Christians in Toronto or Ismaili Muslims in Calgary.
There’s no question where Bennett’s focus has been in the nine months since arriving on job, at least in terms of public condemnations and criticisms as Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Iran have all been raised numerous times.
Is the fact each has a Christian community under threat, or a large voter bloc in Canada, a coincidence?
Bennett, a Christian college dean and former public servant, says he has consulted most faith communities in Canada since taking up his post, “and a lot of them are fairly large diaspora communities from certain countries.”
“And so certainly, when they meet with me, they’re particularly concerned about their community.”
Bennett, a Catholic, also argues Christians are being disproportionately affected by religious persecution, citing reports produced by the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center that say about 200 million Christians around the world are living in or under threat of persecution.
“That’s one in 10 Christians in the world,” he says. “So I know for various churches and Christian denominations here in Canada, they’re very concerned that Canada have a voice about the persecution of Christians.”
Yet he also says he feels an obligation to “speak up and speak out on all the different communities that are facing persecution.”
“We’re guided by where we see particularly egregious violations of religious freedom taking place in the world, regardless of what community that’s affecting,” he says.
Bennett says he doesn’t have the resources to work in every country, so his office is focusing on where the need is most acute, and where Canada has some strategic interest or influence.
Issuing public statements and critiques is also only one part of what his office is doing.
The Office of Religious Freedom comes with an annual budget of $5 million, including a $4-million Religious Freedom Fund for activities outside Canada.
Bennett says the money, some of which has already been committed to projects in Nigeria, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, offers an opportunity to make a difference both quietly, and in countries that want nothing to do with him.
“Kazakhstan is one of our countries of focus,” he says. “And by focusing on Kazakhstan, we also hope to have some engagement in other Central Asian republics where Canada really doesn’t have a great deal of engagement.”
The fund isn’t just for conferences and research on religious tolerance and interreligious dialogue, but is also to provide material support such as legal assistance, training and awareness campaigns for religious communities that are facing persecution or discrimination.
Bennett says a recent call for project proposals netted more than 100 submissions, with the winners to be announced in the new year.
“We’re not interested in pure talking shops,” he says. “We want concrete outcomes that lead to some sort of sustained engagement and actually move the goalposts a bit.”
And for those countries that still don’t want anything to do with him and his mission?
“There’s certain countries, let’s face it, it’s going to be hard to engage with them,” he says. “Whether we’re speaking about Iran, or in some cases even with China. So we need to look at other means to advance freedom of religion in those countries.”
Original Article
Source: canada.com/
Author: Lee Berthiaume
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