The European Commission has decided to designate Mairead McGuinness as Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. In this capacity, she will report to Commissioner Brunner, who is in charge of leading the Commission's dialogue with churches and religious associations or communities, and with philosophical and non-confessional organisations, and will provide support for intercultural and interreligious dialogue processes outside the European Union, including with national authorities, organisations and representatives of different faiths.

FOB is glad to announce that three new scholars are joining its Scientific Committee: Brandon Taylorian, Mark Nemes and Karolina Maria Kotkowska. With their experience in law and religion, contemporary forms of belief and practice, and the study of esotericism and new religious movements, they will help FOB to follow more closely the situation of belief communities and the challenges they face in today’s rapidly changing environment.

By Alessandro Amicarelli — If we want to understand the Tai Ji Men case, we inevitably return to one day: December 19, 1996. You will not find it in schoolbooks, and it has not (yet) become a national holiday, but for those who monitor freedom of religion or belief in Taiwan, it marks a clear turning point. On that day, prosecutors and police raided Tai Ji Men. Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, his wife, and several dizi (disciples) were detained. Their detention was not a quiet procedural act: that evening, images of Dr. Hong, his wife, and the disciples were broadcast across national TV, framed and commented on as if they were criminals.

by Alessandro Amicarelli — CESNUR 2025 took place in Cape Town last November 2025. Now several months later, we can see its importance more clearly. FOB – Freedom of Belief played a full part. President Alessandro Amicarelli attended with Rosita Šorytė from Lithuania and Susan Palmer from Canada, both members of the Scientific Committee of FOB. Their voices stood out in human rights discussions. They cited actual cases and field accounts. Discrimination hits religious minorities every day. Press attacks, "anti-cult" language, blurry laws still strike at groups others dislike.