The fourth and final webinar in the IPU-OHCHR series, titled “When Less is More: Alternatives to Legislation When Combating Hatred Based on Religion or Belief,” delivered a profound message: that peace, unity, and inclusion are not always best achieved through legal instruments alone. The discussion brought together parliamentarians, religious leaders, and human rights experts who shared deeply personal experiences, policy insights, and grassroots strategies aimed at addressing the growing tide of religious hatred.
Moderated by Ms. Anda Filip, Director of Member Parliaments and External Relations at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the session featured three distinguished speakers:
- Senator Salma Ataullahjan , Canadian Parliamentarian and long-standing advocate for Muslim communities;
- Rabbi Alex Goldberg , interfaith leader, academic, and member of the Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council of Europe;
- Mr. Ibrahim Salama , former Chief of the Human Rights Treaties Branch at OHCHR and founder of the Faith for Rights framework.
Together, they painted a compelling picture of how dialogue, education, community engagement, and soft diplomacy can serve as transformative tools in countering religious hatred—tools that transcend the limitations of legislation.
Setting the Stage: Why We Need Alternatives to Legislation
Ms. Anda Filip opened the session with a sobering observation: while legislative action is often seen as the default response to religious hatred, it is far from being the only—or most effective—solution. She noted that hate speech rooted in religion or belief threatens peaceful coexistence and undermines fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and religion.
“We are particularly concerned about how religious hatred threatens peaceful coexistence. And undermines the full and equal enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of religion or belief. Freedom of expression, and the right to be free from discrimination.”
She emphasized that laws alone cannot build inclusive societies or heal divisions. Instead, the focus must shift toward understanding root causes, fostering trust between communities, and promoting alternatives like education, interfaith dialogue, and cultural integration.
This set the tone for an emotionally rich and intellectually rigorous conversation.
Senator Salma Ataullahjan: A Voice of Visibility and Inclusion
Senator Salma Ataullahjan of Canada provided a powerful testimony grounded in her dual identity as a Muslim woman and a parliamentarian. Drawing from Canada’s experience, she highlighted the rise in Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents, including the tragic 2017 mosque shooting in Quebec and recent attacks on visibly Muslim women.
She underscored that religious hatred is not always violent—it often manifests in everyday discrimination: being followed in stores, mocked in school, or denied housing and jobs. These systemic issues demand more than just punitive measures; they require societal change rooted in empathy and education.
“Islamophobia shows up in everyday acts. Being followed in a store. Being mocked at in school? Being passed over for housing or jobs. Muslim women are especially targeted. Often harassed for wearing visible religious dress.”
Senator Ataullahjan championed the importance of visibility and representation, recalling a poignant moment when a young Somali girl told her, “When I look at you, I realize there’s a place for me in Canada.” That single sentence encapsulated the power of role models in shaping perceptions and building belonging.
She urged lawmakers to invest in early education, support teachers with training, and promote inclusive curricula. She also praised initiatives like Canada’s All-Party Parliamentary Interfaith Caucus, which brings together MPs, Senators, and faith leaders to foster understanding.
Her closing words resonated deeply:
“Let us continue to lead with empathy.”
Rabbi Alex Goldberg: Bridging Faiths Through Soft Power
Rabbi Alex Goldberg of the UK offered a vision of faith not as a divisive force, but as a catalyst for unity. He recounted decades of experience working with government agencies, universities, and local communities to mediate conflicts and prevent violence—often without invoking legal enforcement.
One striking example was his work during race riots in Wrexham, where instead of prosecuting offenders, he used convening power to bring communities together. The result? A collaborative effort to improve housing and infrastructure, transforming tension into cooperation.
“We had enormous statutory powers. We had the power of legislation to even bring criminal charges… Instead, we use soft power. We use our convening power to bring the communities together.”
He emphasized that parliamentarians should not merely legislate but lead —by modeling inclusivity, convening diverse voices, and creating spaces for dialogue. He advocated for the use of frameworks like Faith for Rights , which bridges religious traditions with universal human rights principles.
He called for intergenerational and interfaith dialogues, suggesting that parliamentarians host interns from different faith backgrounds to enrich their offices’ perspectives. His message was clear:
“Faith actors are not problems—they are part of the solution.”
His concluding anecdote about walking into his office with a priest, rabbi, imam, monk, and nun—and finding himself “richer for it”—was both humorous and symbolic of the pluralism we must strive for.
Mr. Ibrahim Salama: Rights, Reconciliation, and the Role of Parliamentarians
Mr. Ibrahim Salama, architect of the Faith for Rights initiative, provided a global perspective on how international standards can be adapted to national realities. He cautioned against over-legislating, noting that rigid laws often fail to address the emotional and cultural roots of hatred.
“If I think about the role of parliamentarians, it’s certainly not to legislate more on the matter, but probably to supervise whether or not the existing legislations do respect the international standards.”
Salama reminded participants that religious identity and human rights are not mutually exclusive but deeply intertwined. He stressed the importance of translating international norms—such as the Rabat Plan of Action—into localized, culturally sensitive policies.
He urged parliamentarians to act as facilitators of diversity management rather than enforcers of top-down rules. By supervising national legislation to ensure compliance with international standards and by supporting grassroots initiatives, lawmakers can help create a society where differences are respected and celebrated.
Salama also pointed to the need for better education on human rights and religious literacy, emphasizing that tensions between rights are inevitable but manageable through dialogue and compromise.
His call to view Faith for Rights not as a rigid doctrine but as a flexible framework resonated strongly:
“Religious communities have a lot to offer if they only owned the rights discourse and translated it into their own way.”
Audience Engagement: Bridging Gaps Between Faith Communities and Policymakers
The interactive portion of the webinar featured interventions from parliamentarians and civil society representatives around the world. Among them was Gale Mohammed Oxley of Trinidad and Tobago , who raised concerns about the disconnect between faith-based organizations and political institutions. She suggested that the Faith for Rights toolkit could benefit from a name change to make it more accessible to certain communities wary of the term “rights.”
Another participant, Etienne Dussert of France , reflected on the delicate balance between secularism and religious expression in public life. He acknowledged the challenge of preventing polarization while respecting individual convictions.
These exchanges reinforced the idea that solutions must be locally owned, context-sensitive, and inclusive of all stakeholders—including those who feel marginalized or misunderstood.
Closing Remarks: A Call for Continued Collaboration
As the session drew to a close, moderator Anda Filip thanked the panelists and participants for their contributions. She reiterated the IPU’s commitment to advancing interfaith dialogue and empowering parliamentarians to lead with empathy and foresight.
The event concluded with presentations from key partners:
- Lola Navarro of IPPFoRB announced upcoming regional academies focused on freedom of religion or belief in Southeast Asia, Southeast Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
- Michael Wiener of OHCHR expressed optimism about future collaborations, especially around the Faith for Rights Community of Practice and the upcoming Rome parliamentary conference on interfaith dialogue.
Final Reflections: Toward a New Paradigm of Peacebuilding
This webinar did not offer easy answers, but it illuminated a path forward—one that prioritizes soft power over coercion, dialogue over division, and compassion over conflict.
What emerged clearly was the recognition that religious hatred is not just a legal issue—it is a social, psychological, and spiritual one. And its antidote lies not solely in statutes and penalties, but in classrooms, community centers, parliaments, and places of worship.
The stories shared—from a young girl empowered by seeing a hijab-wearing senator to communities healing after riots—reminded us that real change begins with listening, learning, and leading by example.
In the words of Senator Ataullahjan:
“Let us continue to lead with empathy.”
And in the spirit of Rabbi Goldberg:
“We need to plant seeds today so our children may enjoy the fruit tomorrow.”
