20 Feb 2026, 12:33Pastor Wil MasihEdinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Seventh-day Adventist Church Represented at Scottish Parliament Forum on Religious Freedom
The Scottish Parliament hosted a cross-party discussion on religious freedom, bringing together diverse perspectives and faith voices, including Adventist contributions, on conscience and human dignity.
On the evening of 10 February, the Scottish Parliament hosted a meeting of its Cross-Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), bringing together faith leaders and civil society representatives to examine the global persecution of religious minorities and the importance of safeguarding freedom of conscience.
Convened by John Mason MSP as part of the Parliament’s formal Cross-Party Group programme, the session reflected growing recognition that freedom of religion or belief is not a peripheral concern, but one of national and international significance. Speakers represented a range of faith communities and advocacy organisations from across the world, offering perspectives shaped by contexts where belief, identity, and conscience face increasing restriction.
Particular attention was given to the experiences of women and girls in highly controlled environments, including Afghanistan, where limitations on education, expression, and religious practice continue to shape daily life and future opportunity. Contributors noted that violations of religious liberty often extend beyond legislation into the deeply personal realms of identity, dignity, and long-term wellbeing.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Scotland was represented at the parliamentary session by Pastor Wil Masih, one of the additional speakers invited to contribute. Offering a pastoral perspective, he highlighted the human consequences of suppressing freedom of religion or belief. “When freedom of religion or belief is restricted,” he said, “the damage is not only legal but deeply personal. Faith becomes something practised in fear, identity becomes hidden, and hope grows fragile. Coercion does not create peace or unity; it creates trauma, silence, and generational harm.”
The various contributors to the discussion affirmed that protecting freedom of conscience strengthens civil society as a whole. Where individuals are free to hold, change, and practise their beliefs without fear, communities are better able to flourish in trust, stability, and mutual respect. The discussion also underscored the continuing relevance of safeguarding freedom of conscience within pluralistic societies such as Scotland.
Engagement in forums such as this reflects the wider commitment of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church to constructive participation in public life. Freedom of religion or belief is widely recognised as a foundational human right, essential to protecting dignity and enabling peaceful coexistence within pluralistic societies. Around the world, Adventists have consistently advocated and continue to advocate for freedom of conscience and respectful dialogue, recognising that faith communities bear a responsibility not only to worship, but also to contribute thoughtfully to conversations that shape just and peaceful societies.
The Scottish Parliament hosted a cross-party discussion on religious freedom, bringing together diverse perspectives and faith voices, including Adventist contributions, on conscience and human dignity.
On the evening of 10 February, the Scottish Parliament hosted a meeting of its Cross-Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), bringing together faith leaders and civil society representatives to examine the global persecution of religious minorities and the importance of safeguarding freedom of conscience.
Convened by John Mason MSP as part of the Parliament’s formal Cross-Party Group programme, the session reflected growing recognition that freedom of religion or belief is not a peripheral concern, but one of national and international significance. Speakers represented a range of faith communities and advocacy organisations from across the world, offering perspectives shaped by contexts where belief, identity, and conscience face increasing restriction.
Particular attention was given to the experiences of women and girls in highly controlled environments, including Afghanistan, where limitations on education, expression, and religious practice continue to shape daily life and future opportunity. Contributors noted that violations of religious liberty often extend beyond legislation into the deeply personal realms of identity, dignity, and long-term wellbeing.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Scotland was represented at the parliamentary session by Pastor Wil Masih, one of the additional speakers invited to contribute. Offering a pastoral perspective, he highlighted the human consequences of suppressing freedom of religion or belief. “When freedom of religion or belief is restricted,” he said, “the damage is not only legal but deeply personal. Faith becomes something practised in fear, identity becomes hidden, and hope grows fragile. Coercion does not create peace or unity; it creates trauma, silence, and generational harm.”
The various contributors to the discussion affirmed that protecting freedom of conscience strengthens civil society as a whole. Where individuals are free to hold, change, and practise their beliefs without fear, communities are better able to flourish in trust, stability, and mutual respect. The discussion also underscored the continuing relevance of safeguarding freedom of conscience within pluralistic societies such as Scotland.
Engagement in forums such as this reflects the wider commitment of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church to constructive participation in public life. Freedom of religion or belief is widely recognised as a foundational human right, essential to protecting dignity and enabling peaceful coexistence within pluralistic societies. Around the world, Adventists have consistently advocated and continue to advocate for freedom of conscience and respectful dialogue, recognising that faith communities bear a responsibility not only to worship, but also to contribute thoughtfully to conversations that shape just and peaceful societies.
