Meet the Fellows

Abubakar Yahuza Abubakar

Muslim

Nigeria​

Abubakar Yahuza Abubakar is an activist, advocate for peace education and Socio-Economic Equity. With a focus on youth development, student governance and Gender & religious justice in Nigeria and African region. Abubakar ho

Aminah Ishaq Ibrahim

Muslim

Nigeria​

Aminah Ishaq Ibrahim is passionate about peacebuilding and human rights protection, promotion and advocacy, she has worked tremendously in the areas of peacebuilding with Jos Stakeholders Centre for Peace a network focused on reducing inter

Anna Hrypas

Orthodox Christian

Ukraine

Foreign Service Officer at the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience.

Arienne Calingo

Christian

United States (Philippines)

Arienne is Notre Dame Law School’s Marketing Communications Specialist, executing a communications plan that promotes the Law School’s strategic priorities. She was a 2023 delegate of the Philippine Embassy’s Filipino Young Leaders Program.

Ashuriena Abraham

Christian, Ancient Church of the East

United States (Iraq)

An Assyrian, indigenous to Mesopotamia (Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran), with a background in technology. I am deeply committed to promoting human rights and religious freedom, with solid experience in fundraising for humanitarian aid.

Azhar Chaudhry

Ahmadi Muslim

United Kingdom (Pakistan)

Azhar leads the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Secretariat, which has over 40 members of the UK Parliament. He is also the producer of the Voice of Islam radio show “Faith and Freedom”.

Benjamin Lutz

Jewish

United States

Benjamin Lutz is a PhD Student studying interfaith dialogue. In addition, he works at Mediators Beyond Borders International, a global peacebuilding non-profit and is the founder of Al Fusaic, and educational platform for SWANA resources.

Blessy Prasad

Christian

India

A journalist with 11 years of experience in reporting for various platforms. She now focuses on telling stories of religious minorities who face discrimination or persecution in India and is passionate about bridging communities in conflict

Cynthia Sun

Falun Gong

United States (China)

Pageant queen and full-time researcher based in New York, with a portfolio focusing on Beijing’s transnational repression in the United States and family rescue campaigns. She has spoken at Harvard, Hudson Institute, and other institutions.

David Naung Ding

Christian, Baptist

Myanmar

A proud member of the Chin and Kachin communities from Northern Shan State, Myanmar, I am a Junior Researcher focused on socio-political dynamics and a dedicated advocate for resistance movements.

Dilshat Turdiev

Uyghur Muslim

Kyrgyzstan

Dilshat Turdiev is a law student and human rights advocate whose family fled China in 1959 to escape religious persecution. With expertise from the Academy for Human Rights, he is dedicated to advancing freedom of religion or belief and empowering communities facing oppression.Description

Emily Huang

Falun Gong

United States (China)

Emily Huang is a dentist, advocate, and president of Students for Falun Gong, a nonprofit supporting grassroots student efforts worldwide. Her family fled persecution in China, inspiring her passion for advancing freedom of belief through advocacy, creative projects, and community-building.

Emina Frljak

Muslim

Bosnia and Herzegowina

Emina Frljak is a Project Coordinator at Youth for Peace, Deputy Coordinator of the RfP International Youth Committee and KAICIID Fellow. Her work focuses on peace education, interfaith dialogue, countering hate speech and advancing FoRB.

 

Giacomo Liggera

Neo Pagan

United States

I am a gender queer individual living in Salt Lake City, UT. I am currently a graduate student at the University of Utah, where I study Chinese environmental issues. I am passionate about religious liberty work and mental health.

Harry Myo Lin

Muslim

Myanmar

Harry Myo Lin, a Muslim peacebuilder from Myanmar, is based in Vienna with extensive grassroots work in Asia. He views FoRB as a lifelong passion, fostering peace among diverse communities through interreligious dialogue and human rights.

Hewan Omer

Yezidi

Iraq

Hewan Omer is a Yezidi genocide survivor and FYF’s Country Director in Iraq. A changemaker and advocate, she empowers women and displaced communities through education, trauma recovery, and economic development while amplifying the unheard stories of ISIS survivors globally.

Ishmael Amini

Muslim

Malawi

Ishmael Amini is an interfaith activist trained by KAICIID and United Religions Initiative. With a background in Islamic and interfaith studies, he is dedicated to fostering understanding and collaboration across faiths to address global challenges like social justice and sustainability.

Jacob Householder

Christian, LDS

United States

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jacob is passionate about liberty, social innovation, and teaching. With experience in leadership, research, and nonprofit development, he educates others on constitutional principles and promotes global freedom.

Matthew Tegha

Christian

Nigeria

I am Nigerian media practitioner/blogger and community advocate known for my work in promoting peace, religious harmony, and community engagement. With a focus on middle belt Nigeria. I am the coordinator of Plateau Peace Media Network.

Mohamad Radwan Al Omar

Muslim

Lebanon

Lawyer, Human rights and Youth Activist and leader, Jurist, Writer, Mediator. Interfaith upbringing, Secular school, and Catholic university. Known for my strong Charisma, Networking, Advocacy, Dispute Resolution, and Public Speaking skills

Mohammad Ayatulla Rahaman

Muslim

Nepal

Mr. Mohammad is Founder and National Director in Nepal Unites which is part of Global Unites and running in 13 countries as a youth movement. He has had 16 years experience of leadership, as a facilitator. He likes to work with the youth.

Mohammed Hussein

Muslim

Iraq

I have a bachelor’s degree in peace and human rights from the University of Duhok (Iraq/Kurdistan). I spent a summer semester at the University of Giessen for international students, studying the challenges of immigration,

Mxolisi Masuku

Humanist

Zimbabwe

I am a humanist, and a full-stack web developer. I am the Secretary General of Humanists Zimbabwe, an unregistered NGO which focuses on religious freedom for non-religious people

Percy Nguyen

Buddhism / Folk Religion

Thailand (Vietnam)

Percy Nguyen works with Boat People SOS in Bangkok and is originally from Vietnam. A legal advocate for victims of religious persecution, he bridges communities and policy, promoting interfaith harmony and holistic human rights advocacy with a focus on FoRB law and asylum assistance.

Reuben Emmanuel

Christian

Nigeria

Lawyer and development worker with expertise in Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), governance, and human rights, particularly youth and women’s rights. As a Policy Advocacy Specialist, he drives initiatives promoting peace, shaping policies on security and development, and advancing legal instruments for sustainable impact.

Robert Madubi

Christian, Catholic

Kenya

Madubi Robert is a youth advocate for social justice, founder of Badili Tana Initiative, Bachelor of Arts. He implemented programs such as JISRA promoting interreligious tolerance and understanding and, a coordinator of Global FoRB Youth WG

Sahlim Charles

Christian

Kenya

Sahlim Charles is the Founder and Executive Director of Re-Imagining New Communities, a peacebuilding organization in Kenya focused on conflict resolution, mediation, leadership, and interfaith dialogue. He’s also an expert in impactful sto

Salome Ruth de Silva

Christian, Catholic

Sri Lanka

Salome is a lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of London, currently pursuing a Master of Laws. She serves as the Legal and Research Coordinator at NCEASL, where she conducts research and advocacy on FoRB and human rights.

Santiago Salazar

Sikh

United States (Peru)

Santiago Salazar is a psychology and biology student at the University of New Mexico. Forced to flee Peru due to safety concerns, he has since worked with various organizations to advance freedom of religion or belief, striving to create a world where everyone can freely express their beliefs.

Shan Rasheed

Christian

Pakistan

I live in Pakistan. I work in Communication, IT, and graphic design at Human Friends Organization (HFO). I have different experiences from previous jobs in administration teaching & others. I am passionate about advocating for human right

Shiang Yen Eow

Buddhist

Malaysia

Eow Shiang Yen is a postgraduate in community nutrition with strong interests in youth development, Buddhist studies, and interfaith work. He serves in the Malaysian Youth Council, Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, and INITIATE.MY.

Suvra Dev Kar

Hindu

Bangladesh

A dedicated human rights activist advocating for freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh. With over a decade of experience, I actively work for promoting interfaith harmony and ensuring equal social right for religious minority groups

Swati Chakraborty

Hindu

Canada (India)

Dr. Swati Chakraborty holds a PhD in Human Rights from the University of Calcutta and serves as Visiting Faculty at GLA University and Adjunct Faculty at Concordia University. Founder of Webplatform4Dialogue, she focuses on FoRB, interfaith dialogue, and leveraging technology for social justice.

Twesigye Leonard

Atheist

Uganda

Twesigye Leonard is a Bachelor’s degree holder in public administration and political science from impressed school of social sciences and humanities at Makerere University. Leonard is an active and experienced Human rights defender (HRD).

Vasu Bandhu

Buddhist Monk

United States (Mexico)

Interfaith Manager, Arizona Faith Network; CoChair, Faith for Earth Youth Council, UNEP; Global Council Trustee, United Religions Initiative; Member International Youth Committee Religions for Peace; Chair, North American Interfaith Networ

Viviana Osorio

Christian

Colombia

Viviana is a human rights lawyer and advocate on women’s rights and religious freedom in Colombia and globally. She is a Senior Fellow on Social and Economic Equity and holds a MSc on Inequalities and Social Science from London School of Economics.