A roundtable discussion was held in the Slovak National Council on 3 December 2025 to debate a proposed resolution on the “Abuse of Religion for Political Purposes”, a measure intended to align Slovakia with the international campaign led by BPUR International to enact an International Treaty to Ban the Political Abuse of Religion. The proposed resolution No. 1082, was tabled be MPs, Ondrej Prostredník Zora Jaurová and Lucia Plavakova.
It is a significant step forward in our progress on the international agenda, beside the active engagements with over 20 governments and a scheduled supporting resolution at the Council of Europe for early 2026. Several other legislative sponsors are now working on similar proposed resolutions across Europe and worldwide.
BPUR International is also organising a major conference in the UK House of Commons on 26 March 2026 to align all stakeholders and officials around the roadmap towards the UN General Assembly.
The discussion in Bratislava was attended by MP František Mikloško, MP Ivan Hazucha and Jozef Humenský representing MP Marián Čaučík, alongside religious leaders, diplomats and international civil-society representatives to examine the draft parliamentary proposed resolution and to test its language and political feasibility.
The session was opened by MP Ondrej Prostredník, one of the proposers, who presented the initiative as a necessary response to the misuse of religion for political legitimacy. He underscored the importance of fostering a public debate in Slovakia on the ways religion is instrumentalized in politics.
Co-proposer Zora Jaurová highlighted that the political exploitation of faith undermines both religious institutions and social cohesion. She emphasized that the initiative seeks to build consensus rather than polarize public life and welcomed constructive amendments.
Diplomatic perspectives were provided by Piotr Samerek, Chargé d’Affaires of the Polish Embassy, and Ján Bittšanský, attaché at the Apostolic Nunciature. Religious-sector contributors included Ján Szöllös, Vice-President of the Ecumenical (ERC) Council of Churches in Slovakia; Dušan Uhrín, Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance; and Peter Petrovič of the Forum of World Religions Slovakia. While welcoming the dialogue, they emphasized the need for a professional, non-political debate and highlighted past ideological abuses that warrant careful consideration.
Salam Sarhan, representing BPUR International, presented the initiative’s rationale and international reach. He noted that existing declarations and conventions have been insufficient and proposed strengthening the international legal framework through a binding treaty to ban: all political abuses of religion that undermine human equality; all forms of religious discrimination in rights and duties; all religious exclusion under public law; and all restrictions on freedom of religion or belief.
Sarhan also highlighted the global campaign’s progress, noting growing support in over 80 countries, active engagement with more than 20 governments, and proposed supporting resolutions, including a motion at the Council of Europe.
The discussion concluded without formal changes to the draft but acknowledged substantial common ground and some reservations. Prostredník thanked participants for their candid exchange, noting that while there is broad sympathy for condemning abuse, achieving the right balance between legal instruments and inclusive, non-polarizing language will be essential as Slovakia considers the proposed resolution and its role in supporting BPUR International’s wider diplomatic campaign.
