At a time of national divisions and fraying alliances, the 2025 BYU International Law and Religion Symposium will explore how religious freedom is protected in individual countries, both judicially and legislatively, as well as through regional organizations and under international law. How can these layers of protection work together to establish religious rights, the rule of law, and pluralism?

This is a year of reflection for us as our International Law and Religion Studies Center turns 25, but is also one for broader communities – the U.N. celebrates its 80th anniversary and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe celebrates its 50th anniversary. What impact have regional and international organizations had on ensuring freedom of religion or belief? How can we resolve any tensions between national individuality and independence with shared religious freedom commitments for the protection of all? In what ways are international norms meaningful in a world fraught with division?

We look forward to discussing these and similar issues with representatives of international organizations and legal scholars as well as leaders of national governments, legislative bodies, judiciaries, religious organizations, and civil society. Our hope is that this Symposium can serve as a cross-cutting moment of authentic dialogue between players and stakeholders on religious freedom issues worldwide.

Watch the Symposium Plenaries Live

All sessions but the judicial sessions will be recorded and made available to watch in a few weeks following the Symposium.

CLE information

 

Conference Schedule

Sunday, Oct 5

7 – 8:15 PM

  • OPENING SESSION (Languages offered: English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean,  Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese)

    JRCB Room 303

    Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University; Program Chair, International Law and Religion Symposium; United States

    Prayer
    Welcomes:
    C. Shane Reese, President, Brigham Young University, United States

    David H. Moore, Dean, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Keynote Speakers:

    Baroness Elizabeth Rose Berridge of the Vale of Catmose, Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

    Andrea Pin, Professor of Comparative Public Law, University of Padova, Italy

8:15 – 9:30 PM

  • RECEPTION

    Fritz B. Burns Memorial Lounge,
    J. Reuben Clark Law Building Second Floor

Monday, Oct 6

9 – 10:30 AM

  • FIRST PLENARY SESSION

    – The Impact and Future of Regional and International Protections of Freedom of Religion and Belief
    JCRB 303

    Moderator:
    Hannah Clayson Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

    Panelists:
    Peter Petkoff, Director, Centre for Law and Religion, United Kingdom: “Protections of Freedom of Religion and Belief viewpoint from United Kingdom”

    Nazneen Rowhani, Secretary General, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India, India: “An Indian perspective on Conference Theme”

10:30 – 10:45 AM

  • Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

  • Faith in the Workplace(English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 303

    Panelists:
    Greg Clark

    Christina Clark

  • Latin America – Legislation Concerning Religion (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Scott Isaacson, Senior Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

    Panelists:
    Ana María Constanza Guzmán Labra, Legal Adviser, National Office of Religious Affairs, Republic of Chile: “Viewpoints on Religious Affairs Offices from Chile”

    Ronald Yomelfy Portillo C., Diputado por Listado Nacional, Congreso de Guatemala: “Perspectives on Conference Theme in Guatemala”

    Carol Villanueva, Partner, Flor Studio, García Montufar, Arata & Associates, Lawyers, Peru: “A Peruvian Viewpoint on Political and Legal Aspects of Conference Theme”

  • European Union (English, Arabic, Uzbek)

    Room 314

    Panelists:
    Jose Luis Bazan, Legal Adviser, Commission of Catholic Episcopal Conference of the European Union, Belgium: “Perspectives on Conference Theme in the European Union”

    Bjorn Ottesen, President, Danish Seventh-Day Adventist Church

  • Multi-Faith Promotion of Religions Freedom (English)

    Room 205

    Moderator:
    Jon Ammons, Associate Director of the New York Office of Public and International Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    Panelists:
    Rev. Willybard Lagho, Roman Catholic Bishop; Chairman, Interreligious Council of Kenya: “Viewpoints from Kenya on Multi-Faith Promotion of Religious Freedom”

    Jacklevyn Manuputty, General Chairperson, Indonesia National Council of Churches: “Multi-Faith Promotion of Religious Freedom Perspectives from Indonesia”

    Dexter S. Maben, Pastor, Church of South India, Karnataka Central Diocese: “Perspectives on Conference Theme from India”

  • Religion in Africa (English)

    Room 206

    Panelists:
    Dagnachew Tefera, Legal Adviser on Religious Freedom for Sub Saharan Africa, Ariseafrica, Ethiopia: “An Ethiopian Perspective on the Conference Theme”

    Asonzeh Ukah, Professor, University of Cape Town, South Africa: “Regulating the Sacred: Emerging Frameworks for Africa’s Religious Marketplace”

  • Judicial 1 (English, Spanish)

    Room 208

    Moderator:
    Denise Lindberg, Senior District Judge with the State of Utah Judiciary

    Speakers:
    José Ernesto Clímaco Valiente, Court Magistrate, Supreme Court of Justice, El Salvador: “Judicial Perspectives from El Salvador”

    Judge Lebo Modiba, Judge, Johannesburg High Court, Gauteng Division, South Africa: “A South African Viewpoint on Conference Theme”

    Ramaotwana Ramaotwana, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Botswana Government National Level: “Perspectives from Botswana on Conference Theme”

    Justice Montri Sillapamahabundit, Presiding Judge, Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases, Thailand

  • Indigenous Rights and Religious Freedom: the American Context (English)

    Room 275

    Speakers:
    Michalyn Steele, Marion G. Romney Professor of Law at J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States: “Recent Developments in Free Exercise Jurisprudence for Native American Religion”

    Dana Lloyd, Assistant Professor, Villanova University, United States: “Religious Freedom, Indigenous Sovereignty, and Oak Flat”

    Cecilia Tiziano, Program Director, Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University, United States: “‘You Cannot Harm Our Brother’: Indigenous Rights in a Pluriversal World”

12 Noon – 1:30 PM

  • LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS
    Wilkinson Student Center, Room 3220/22/24
  • LUNCH FOR LATIN AMERICAN DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS
    Wilkinson Student Center, Room 3211

1:30 – 2:00 PM

  • GROUP PHOTO FOR DELEGATES
    BYU Law School West Lawn

2:00 – 2:30 PM

  • KEYNOTE (Languages offered: English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean,  Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese)
    Room 303Speaker:
    K.H. Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Religious Affairs, Indonesia

2:30 – 4:00 PM

  • SECOND PLENARY SESSION (Languages offered: English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean,  Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese)

    – Judicial Perspectives and Experiences with Religious Freedom
    Room 303

    Moderator:
    David G. Campbell, Senior United States District Judge, United States District Court, District of Arizona

    Speakers:
    Alberto Borea Odria, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Costa Rica:
    “Perspectives on the Conference Theme in Costa Rica”

    Danielle J. Forrest, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Court of
    Appeals: “American Viewpoints on the Best Practices for Protection of Religious Freedom”

    Rohinton Nariman, Justice Supreme Court of India: “Perspectives form India on
    the Conference Theme”

    Mustafa Saldirim, Assistant Professor, İstanbul Maltepe University, Türkiye:“A Turkish Perspective on the Conference Theme”

4:00 – 4:15 PM

  • Break

4:15 – 5:15 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

  • Conceptual Approaches to Religious Freedom (English, Spanish)

    Room 303

    Speakers:
    Victor Rey, Professor, CREE Ecological Reflection and Spirituality Community,
    Ecuador: “¿Que es la libertad de concencia?”

    Lee-Shae Salma Scharnick-Udemans, Senior Researcher, University of the
    Western Cape, South Africa: “Mediating the Sacred: Dignity, Rights, Pluralism”

    Dmytro Vovk, Visiting Associate Professor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Ukraine: “New Challenges to the European Concept of Religious Freedom and Security”

  • Latin America – Religious Affairs Offices (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Dennis Lange, Executive Director, FIDELA

    Speakers:
    Maria del Pilar Bosca Chillida, Director General of Religious Organizations,
    Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires: “An Argentinian Perspective on Religious Affairs Offices”

    Alexander Jaimes Medina, National Director of Religious Affairs, Government
    of Colombia: “Guarantees for the Prevention, Promotion, and Protection of the Human Right to Religious Freedom”

    Eduardo Gonzalo Muga Melgarejo, General Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Government of Peru: “Viewpoints from Peru on Conference Theme”

  • Middle East (English, Uzbek)

    Room 314

    Speakers:
    Florin Seudin, Department Head, Department of Ethnic and Religious Minorities Affairs, The Presidency of Kurdistan Region, Iraq: “An Iraqi Viewpoint on the Conference Theme”

  • Cambodia and Korea (English, Khmer, Korean, Vietnamese)

    Room 205

    Speakers:
    Viseis La, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Cults and Religion, Cambodia: “A Cambodian Perspective on the Conference Theme”

    Khan Sophanara, Head of Department, Department of Religious Affairs of
    Cambodia: “Perspectives on Religious Affairs Offices in Cambodia”

    Chae Young Kim, Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Sogang
    University, Korea: “Self-Reflection on Freedom of Religion in Korea”

  • Sub-Saharan Africa 1 (English)

    Room 206

    Moderator:
    Hannah Clayson Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

    Speakers:
    Doris Uwicyeza Picard, CEO, Rwanda Governance Board: “A Perspective from Rwanda on Religious Affairs Offices”

    Dagnachew Tefera, Legal Adviser on Religious Freedom for Sub Saharan
    Africa, Ariseafrica, Ethiopia: “Viewpoints from Ethiopia on Conference Theme”

  • Türkiye (English)

    Room 208

    Moderator:
    Jeff McGhie, COO and General Counsel, The Stirling Foundation

    Speakers:
    Kemal Erkan, USA Representative, Marmara Group Foundation: “Perspectives on the Conference Theme from the Türkiye”

    Cem Murat Sofuoğlu, Attorney At Law, Sofuoğlu & Partners Law Firm, Türkiye

    Şeref Volkan Vayısoğlu, Attorney At Law, Sofuoğlu & Partners Law Firm, Türkiye

  • European Court of Human Rights and Religious Freedom Protections (English)

    Room 275

    Speakers:
    Matteo Corsalini, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Siena, Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences, Italy: “Liberal and ‘Post-Liberal’ Religious Freedom in Church Employment: An Appraisal of the Strasbourg’s Court’s Case-Law”

    Michaela Moravčíková, Researcher, Lecturer, Vice Dean Law Faculty, Trnava University, Slovakia: “The European Court of Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Central Europe”

    Jelle Creemers, Director ISFORB, ETF Leuven, Belgium: “Human Vulnerability and Societal Flourishing”

Tuesday, Oct 7

9 – 10:30 AM

  • THIRD PLENARY SESSION (Languages offered: English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean,  Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese)

    – Faith and Civil Society–Promoting Human Flourishing
    Room 303

    Moderator:
    Shima Baradaran Baughman, Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Husna Ahmad OBE, CEO, Global One 2015, United Kingdom

    Revd Lord Dr Russell Rook OBE, Member, Good Faith Partnership; Member, House of Lords, United Kingdom

    Francis Kuria, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace, Religions for Peace International, Kenya: “A Kenyan Perspective on Conference Theme”

10:30 – 10:45 AM

  • Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

  • National Perspectives on the Value and Future of International Law (English)

    Room 303

    Speakers:
    H.E. Natalina Mou, Amb. South Sudan Embassy, Ethiopia & Djibouti; Permanent Rep.: AU, IGAD, & UNECA, AU Office / Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: “The Value and Future of International Law Perspective from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti”

    Lira Goswami, Lawyer and Partner, Associated Law Advisers, India: “Protecting Religious Freedom in India”

  • Latin America–Social Perspectives (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Denise Lindberg, Senior Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

    Speakers:
    Juan Antonio Bendeck, President, Honduran Media Network (RHMC): “Social Perspectives from Honduras”

    Reynaldo Franco, Presidente, Universidad Nuestro Pacto Internacional – UNPI, Dominican Republic: “A Dominican Perspective on the Conference Theme”

    Nery Rodenas, Director of the Human Rights Office, Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala: “Perspectives from Guatemala on the Conference Theme”

    Jorge Dockweiler Cardenas, Dean of Faculty of Theology, Philosophy and Letters, Universidad de Aquino Bolivia: “Religious Freedom and Contemporary Challenges in Bolivia: A Perspective from the Evangelical Protestant Worldview”

  • Azerbaijan (Arabic, Uzbek)

    Room 314

    Speakers:
    Ramin Mammadov, Chairman, State Committee on Religious Associations, Republic of Azerbaijan: “Viewpoints from Azerbaijan on Conference Theme”

    Agil Shirinov, Rector of Institute of Theology, Azerbaijan Institute of Theology: “Perspectives on Conference Theme from Azerbaijan”

  • Multi-faith engagement for Social Good (Bahasa Indonesian, Khmer, Korean, Vietnamese)

    Room 205

    Moderator:
    Andy Reed, Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding and Associate Professor of Church History, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Fr James Channan OP, Director, Peace Center, Pakistan: “Multi-Faith
    Engagement for Social Good Perspectives from Pakistan”

    Pranav Desai, Director, BAPS Hindu Mandir, UAE: “Viewpoints on the
    Conference Theme from UAE”

    Rev. Dae Sun Kim, Chairman, United Religions Initiative of Korea: “Title
    Submitted”

  • Sub-Saharan Africa 2 (English)

    Room 206

    Moderator:
    Brent Belnap, Managing Director, Odyssey Capital Group, United States

    Speakers:
    Ahmed Salisu Garba, Vice Chancellor, Al-Muhibbah Open University, Nigeria: “Navigating the Labyrinth: Nigeria’s Layered Protections for Religious Freedom Between Constitutional Promise and Sectarian Reality”

    Ahmad Jibrin Suleiman, Associate Professor and Department Head, Islamic Law, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano; CCD-AWA, Nigeria: “Religious Freedom for Global Harmony: Legal, Social, and Islamic Law Approaches”

    Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Dean, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA): “Cultural Relativism and Universality in Protecting Religious Freedom: The Tension between Global Norms and Regional Particularities”

  • Canada and New Zealand (English)

    Room 208

    Speakers:
    Julia Beazley, Director of Public Policy, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada: “Canadian Perspectives on the Conference Theme”

    André Schutten, Senior Legal Counsel and Director of Training, Christian Legal Fellowship, Canada: “A Perspective from Canada on the Conference Theme”

    Simon O’Connor, Director, External and Strategic Engagement, Family First New Zealand; former NZ MP: “Viewpoints on the Conference Theme in New Zealand”

  • Religious Law and Human Rights (English)

    Room 275

    Moderator:
    Waheeda Amien, Professor, University of Cape Town, Acting Judge of the Gauteng High Court, South Africa

    Speakers:
    Akif Tahiiev, Postdoctoral Researcher, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany: “Religious Freedom or Freedom for the Recognized? Cases of Bahá’ís in Iran and Ahmadis in Pakistan”

    Brandon Reece Taylorian, Research Associate, University of Lancashire, United
    Kingdom: “Muslim Law in the United Kingdom”

    Natalia Alenkina, Associate Professor, American University of Central Asia,
    Kyrgyzstan: “Evolution of Justice and Legality on the Periphery of the State”

11:45 – 12:00 PM

  • Break

12:00 – 1:00 PM

  • Broadcast of Memorial Service for Russell M. NelsonEnglish Streaming (Room 303)
    Spanish Streaming (Room 206)
    Russian Streaming (Room 314)
    Korean Streaming (Room 205)
    Portuguese Streaming (Room 206)
    On-site Interpretation: Arabic, Indonesian, Khmer, Vietnamese

1:15 – 2:30 PM

  • LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS
    (Wilkinson Student Center, Room 3220/22/24)

2:10 – 3:10 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

  • Contrasting Protections of Religious Freedom (English)

    Room 303

    Speakers:
    James D. Holt, Associate Professor of Religious Education, University of
    Chester, United Kingdom: “Education and Freedom of Religion or Belief: An Essential Relationship”

    Abdulkader Tayob, Emeritus Professor, University of Cape Town, South Africa: “Is Freedom of Religion Enough? Reflections on Freedom of Religion and Competing Authorities, Religious, and Civil”

    Dr. Ben Saunders, Associate Professor, Deakin Law School, Australia: “Protecting Religious Freedom: Are Religious Vilification Laws the Answer?”

  • Latin America – Multifaith Engagement (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Cynthia Lange, Executive Director, FIDELA

    Speakers:
    Jorge Duarte, President, Dominican Evangelical Confraternity (CONEDO), Dominican Republic: “Viewpoints from the Dominican Republic on the Conference Theme”

    Martha Alejandra Ibarra Merito, Reverend, Evangelical Covenant Church, Mexico: “Mexican Perspectives on Multifaith Engagement”

    Jorge Miguel Rampogna, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL), South American Division, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Brazil: “A South African Perspective on the Conference Theme”

  • Religious Freedom in the Islamic World (English, Arabic, Uzbek)

    Room 314

    Moderator:
    Lutforahman Saeed, Visiting Scholar, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Fawaz Habbal, Director General, Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies, UAE: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Tolerance: The UAE’s Model in Advancing Religious Freedom and Pluralism”

    Firas Habbal, President, Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies, UAE: “The Role of Scientific Research in Promoting Religious Freedom and Social Cohesion in Arab Societies”

    Abdullah Waise, President, Islamic Scholar Union in Kurdistan Region, Iraq: “Religious Freedom in Islamic Law”

  • Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean, Vietnamese)

    Room 205

    Speakers:
    Matius Ho, Executive Director, Leimena Institute, Indonesia: “Viewpoints from Indonesia on the Conference Theme”

    Farid F. Saenong, Special Adviser to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs; Lecturer, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII): “Perspectives on the Conference Theme from Indonesia”

  • South Africa (English)

    Room 206

    Speakers:
    Maniraj Sukdaven, Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa: “Balancing Pluralism and Constitutional Rights: Religion and Education in South Africa’s Democratic Framework”

    Michael Swain, Executive Director, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FORSA): “Perspectives on the Conference Theme from South Africa”

  • Judicial 2 (English, Spanish)

    Room 208

    Moderator:
    Danielle Forrest, Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

    Speakers:
    Waheeda Amien, Professor, University of Cape Town, South Africa: “Protecting, Promoting and Celebrating Religious Diversity in South Africa – Has Enough Been Done?”

    Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, Justice, Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea: “Judicial Viewpoints on the Conference Theme”

    Ilvin C. Mugeta, Judge, High Court of Tanzania, Arusha Region: “Tanzanian Perspectives on the Conference Theme”

    [Philippine Court Authority]

  • Indigenous Rights and Religious Freedom: Global Perspectives (English)

    Room 275

    Moderator:
    Dmytro Vovk, Visiting Associate Professor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Ukraine

    Speakers:
    Celeste Cembrano-Mallari, Lecturer, University of the Philippines Law Center: “Indigenous Religions and Law”

    Jeremy Patrick, Senior Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland, Australia: “Indigenous Spirituality and Religious Freedom in Australia”

    Christine Venter, Teaching Professor, Notre Dame Law School, United States: “The Blurring of Religious and Cultural Rights in the South African Context”

3:45 – 4:00 PM

  • Break

3:15 – 4:15 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

  • Student Presentations (English)

    Room 303

    Speakers:
    Tala Alnasser, Student, Brigham Young University, United States: “Evangelizing Sharia: French Colonial Influence in Tunisian Religious Law”

    Megan Green, Student, Brigham Young University, United States: “Tanzanian Pluralism Geography: Geospatial Intelligence & Africana Studies, BYU”

    Eve Lindberg, Student, Brigham Young University, United States: “Antisemitism, Free Speech, and Religious Liberty on Campus: Balancing Fundamental Rights in Higher Education”

    Brendan Murphy, Student, Brigham Young University, United States: “A Synthesis of Two Competing Models of Dehumanization in Law and Religion Studies”

    Henry Purser, Student, Brigham Young University, United States: “The Sacred and its Place: Looking at Apache Stronghold with Silko’s Ceremony”

  • Religious Freedom in Latin America: Past and Present (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish)

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Gary Doxey, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

    Speakers:
    Rocío Cortés-Rodríguez, Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: “Constitutional Separation, Social Encounter: Rethinking Religious Freedom in Chile at 100 Years”

    Fábio Carvalho Leite, Attorney; Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: “Religious Freedom in Brazil: Historic Experiences and Current Challenges”

    Guillermo García Montúfar Sarmiento, University Professor in Law, Universidad de Lima, Peru: “The State of Religious Freedom in Peru”

    Quezia Barreto, Attorney, Brazil: “Perspectives on the Conference Theme in Brazil”

  • Uzbekistan (English, Arabic, Uzbek)

    Room 314

    Moderator:
    Elizabeth Clark, Associate Director for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Muzzafar Kamilov, Deputy Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on IssuCambes Related to Representative Bodies, Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Organizations, Religion, and Youth Affairs; Rector of International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan

    Olim Astanakulov, Vice Rector for International Cooperation, International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan

    Shohruhbek Tillaboev, Lecturer, Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan: “Intellectual Property in Islamic Law: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence”

  • Vietman, Timor Leste, Micronesia (Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean, Vietnamese)

    Room 205

    Moderator:
    Brett Scharffs, Rex E. Lee Chair and Professor of Law; Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Nguyễn Tiến Trọng, Deputy Chairman, Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Viet Nam: “Viewpoints from Vietnam on the Conference Theme”

    Jacinto dos Santos, Adviser to Deputy Prime-Minister, Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing, Timor-Leste: “Religious freedom in the light of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste”

    Francisco Simram, Senator, Pohnpei State Legislature, Micronesia: “A Perspettive from Micronesia on the Conference Theme”

  • Philippines (English)

    Room 206

    Speakers:
    Jude Acidre, Congressman, House of Representatives, Philippines: “Perspective on the Conference Theme from the Philippines”

    Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Senior Multimedia Reporter, Rappler Inc., Philippines: “Viewpoints on the Conference Theme in the Philippines”

  • Pakistan (English)

    Room 208

    Moderator:
    Hannah Clayson Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

    Speakers:
    Sikander Ahmed Shah, Associate Professor of Law, Lahore University of Management Sciences: “Moving Beyond Empty Signifiers: Law, Practice, and Praxis on Freedom of Religion in Pakistan”

    Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, Director General, International Islamic University, Pakistan: “Religious Freedom in South Asia: Trends and Challenges”

  • State Power and Religious Freedom (English)

    Room 275

    Moderator:
    Paul Kerry, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

    Speakers:
    Benjamin Berger, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada: “History, Specificity, and the Trouble with State Neutrality: A Dispatch from Canada”

    William Gibson, Emeritus Professor, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom: “The Source of all Constitutional Rights: The Case of Godden v Hales in 1686”

    Kuni Terasawa, Associate Professor, Wartburg College, United States: “Religious Freedom under State Pressure: Japan’s Modern Struggles”

3:45 – 4:00 PM

  • Break

4:00 – 5:30 PM

  • CONFERENCE SUMMATIONS AND CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS ON CONFERENCE THEME (English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Korean,  Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese)

    Room 303

    Reflections from Selected Delegates

    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University and Program Chair, International Law and Religion Symposium