Sir,
International Association of Religious Freedom is an international organization with highly political clout. It has consultation status with the UN economic and social council. It also has consultation status with UNICEF and UNESCO. Religious freedom and human rights are ongoing concerns of TARE. It has worked successfully for human right violations in Transylvania, Sri Lanka, Philippines etc. It has prepared several drafts of human rights violations in different countries, these drafts are available from IARF, and The Sikhs should approach this organization and ask it to prepare a draft on Sikh human rights which can be sent to other people. You can become a member of this organization by writing on this address: IARF/UUA Membership Secretary IARF, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
IARF originated from Unitarian Universalism church. However, at the present time it has branches in almost all the countries and it is involved in bringing all religions of the world together to discuss peace and human rights of people.
We attended one of its meetings at Stanford University in 1987. All religions were presented in this congress. There was only one Sikh in it. When the time for Sikhism lecture/work-ship came only three of us were there to attend it and to our surprise there was nobody to speak on Sikhism. Afterwards somebody told us that lecture on Sikhism has been cancelled. We immediately made a flyer on Sikhism and made 1,000 copies and distributed to all the participants. ‘Such types of congresses are generally not attended by Sikhs. However Sikhs must try and spread the word about Sikhism. Nobody else will do it for you. IARF has such congresses once in 3 years. Next one in 27th IARF World Congress to Europe from July 27 2 August, 1990. The theme is “Religious Cooperating for one world.” If you are interested to be a member or want to attend congress and shout to the world that Sikhs are there as part and parcel of this world, write to IARF, Dreieichstrasse J9, D6000 Frankfurt, 70, FR Germany.
Sejjan S. Bajwa Ph.D
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
