Experts Convene in Toledo for AIDLR Consultative Meeting on Religious Freedom
19 February 2025
Toledo, Spain – From March 17 to 19, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) hosted a high-level consultative meeting in Toledo, bringing together 15 distinguished experts on religious freedom. The gathering aimed to identify key trends and challenges affecting freedom of religion and belief in the contemporary world.
The participants, including specialists in work-religion and state-religion relations, representatives in international organizations, and AIDLR and AIDLR Spain officers, engaged in in-depth discussions on pressing global issues. Among the main topics addressed were the erosion of liberal democracy and its consequences for religious liberty, the rise of new technologies and their impact on personal freedom, the threats to multilateralism, and the evolving landscape of religious nationalism. Additionally, experts analyzed the instrumentalization of religion for political purposes and viceversa, a growing concern in many parts of the world.
As part of the event, attendees also participated in side meetings with key local figures, including the Alcaide (Mayor) of Toledo and the Archbishop of Toledo. These discussions reinforced the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in promoting religious freedom and fostering mutual understanding.
The consultative meeting also served as a preparatory step for the upcoming AIDLR International Conference, set to take place in Toledo from March 17 to 20, 2026. Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of AIDLR next year’s conference is expected to further elaborate on the themes discussed during this gathering and develop actionable strategies for advancing religious liberty worldwide.
Toledo, Spain, is ideal for a religious freedom meeting due to its historical coexistence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, symbolized by its churches, mosques, and synagogues. Known as the “City of Three Cultures,” it embodies interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and heritage, making it a powerful setting for such discussions.
With religious freedom increasingly challenged by political and technological shifts, the AIDLR consultative meeting in Toledo marks an essential step in addressing these pressing concerns and advocating for a more inclusive and tolerant global society.
