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    By Noah Bond

    In the wake of last months terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., delegates representing 28 nations across the world convened at the Harold B. Lee Law School to discuss religious tolerance.

    The topic the symposium was, “Implementing the 1981 UN Declaration on Religious Tolerance and Non-Discrimination”.

    “I think there is a shared sense that this (the Sept., 11 attacks) will pose a new set of challenges for religious freedom, and we need to find thoughtful ways to deal with the adverse impacts on religious group and freedom,” said W. Cole Durham, BYU law professor and director of the BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies.

    Senator Gordon H. Smith from Oregon spoke to the delegates Sunday about the importance of keeping religious freedoms alive for people of all nations.

    Sen. Smith illustrated this by talking about current legislation that has been passed.

    France has passed legislation that limits religious freedoms.

    Groups that engage in harmful acts even though they may be voluntary are subject to punishment.

    Breaking this law could result in up to three years in prison or a $325 fine and groups that break a list of laws can be banned from the country all together.

    “This French law seems to be excessively vague, and may result in harsh actions against many legitamate religious groups and practices,” Sen. Smith said.

    There are some indications that leadership in China and Hong Kong are considering the implementation of laws that are based on the French model, Sen. Smith said.

    The best response to last months attack is to heighten awareness of all groups that exist in the world while continuing to practice tolerance for the beliefs of others, said Sen. Smith.

    The symposium provided opportunity to open communication among delegates.

    Countries are treating religion in different ways. It is important to understand what those differences are, said Zorica Angelovska-Kovacevik a delegate of Macedonia representing the commission for relations with religious communities and religious groups.

    “If problems are allowed to be left alone, it could lead to catastrophic situations,” said S. Shahid Husain from Pakistan, the Senior Advisor for the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations Organization of the Islamic Conference.

    Our hope is that all countries will come to a common understanding and appreciation of the beliefs of others in this world, said Blake McKay, 26, a third year law student from Atlanta

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