Honoring Champions of Religious Freedom: The 2024 Awards Ceremony
On November 29, 2024, the Church of Scientology of Spain, located near the National Parliament in Madrid, hosted the 11th edition of the Religious Freedom Awards. Organized annually by the Foundation for the Improvement (Foundation MEJORA) of Life, Culture and Society, a Scientology foundation recognized by the United Nations, the event brought together academics, activists, and human rights defenders to emphasize the importance of freedom of thought, religion, and belief as fundamental pillars of democracy and peaceful coexistence.
This year's award recipients included Ana Isabel Planet, Santiago Cañamares, and Fernando Amérigo-Cuervo. The ceremony was attended by notable figures in the field of religious freedom, such as Daniel Pelayo (Deputy Director General of Religious Freedom of the Spain Ministry of Presidency), Gustavo Suarez Pertierra (former Minister of Education, Minister of Defense, and current President of UNICEF Spain), Ana Fernandez Coronado, and Luis Morente of the Federation of Buddhist Communities, among others.
The event commenced with an opening speech by Isabel Ayuso-Puente, Secretary General of the Foundation Mejora, who highlighted the significance of these awards in both international and European contexts. She FoRB also addressed the recent tragedies in Valencia, praising the solidarity shown by volunteers from various religions, including Scientology volunteer ministers, who coordinated over 18,000 hours of service in recovery efforts. “Solidarity and collaboration have shown that, in the face of adversity, we can all work together without differences,” she stated.
Ivan Arjona-Pelado, President of the Foundation and representative of Scientology before the EU and the United Nations, presented a special surprise: a publishing project funded by the Coexistence Project Foundation, which will distribute a book compiling the works of the award winners over the last decade to university libraries. According to Arjona-Pelado, “spreading knowledge about religious freedom is crucial to building a future of respect and tolerance.”
The award winners each delivered powerful speeches. Ana Planet Contreras, Full Professor of Sociology of Islam at the Autonomous University of Madrid, was recognized for her research on the rights of Muslim communities in Spain. She emphasized the importance of plurality and religious freedom in strengthening European societies.
Santiago Cañamares Arribas, Full Professor of State Ecclesiastical Law at the Complutense University of Madrid, discussed the challenges of religious freedom in the West, highlighting the need for ongoing defense of this right even in democratic societies.
Fernando Amérigo-Cuervo Arango, a leading expert in Ecclesiastical Law and a prominent member of the Spanish Society of Religious Sciences, linked human dignity with fundamental rights in his speech, warning against the dangers of intolerance and xenophobia.
The event also featured a special recognition of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, for his contributions to human rights. This tribute, promoted by attorney Arroyo, was received by Jetmira Cremonesi, representative of Hubbard’s personal office in Europe.
The 11th edition of the Religious Freedom Awards underscored the essential role of defending religious freedom in fostering inclusive and democratic societies. As Fernando Amérigo-Cuervo aptly stated, “beliefs sustain us as human beings and freedom of conscience is essential to build a just society.” This event not only celebrated outstanding figures but also reaffirmed a collective commitment to equality, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence.
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