On September 19, 2025, the twelfth Religious Freedom Awards were held at the Church of Scientology headquarters in Madrid, organized by the Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, which has UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status. These pioneering awards in Spain and Europe recognized five honorees for their work defending religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and interfaith dialogue: Salvador Pérez Álvarez (UNED) for promoting positive secularism and a culture of peace; Óscar Salguero Montaño (Complutense University of Madrid) for advancing diversity and coexistence; Javier García Oliva (University of Manchester) for his international perspective on rights; Luis Morente Leal (Buddhist Union of Spain) for his advocacy of equality and minority faiths; and Pandit Krishna Kripa Dasa (Hindu Federation of Spain) for strengthening interreligious dialogue. The event reaffirmed its role as a European benchmark in promoting diversity as a source of societal enrichment.
Madrid, September 19, 2025 – The headquarters of the Church of Scientology in Madrid hosted the twelfth edition of the Religious Freedom Awards, organized by the Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, pioneers in Spain and Europe in recognizing the work of those who defend religious freedom, freedom of conscience and interfaith dialogue.
These awards, unique in their kind, and drawing from precept 18th of The Way to Happinness by L Ron Hubbard, bring together academics, jurists, religious leaders, and representatives of civil society in an event that seeks to highlight the challenges and achievements in this field. The Foundation, which holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and which was proudly founded by the Church of Scientology, has brought the voice of Spanish religious communities to international forums, including Geneva, Vienna, and New York, consolidating its role as a relevant actor in the promotion of this fundamental right.
Among those in attendance were Mr. Daniel Pelayo, Deputy Director General for Religious Freedom at the Ministry of the Presidency, and representatives of the Diversity Management Unit of the Madrid Municipal Police, whose work was highlighted during the event. Other attendees were from the Bahai Community of Spain, the sisterhood of Vedruna Carmelita nuns of Charity, among others.
A message of dignity and freedom
The ceremony opened with remarks by Isabel Ayuso Puente, Secretary General of the Foundation, who recalled that religious freedom is essential even in times of war:
“In a world ravaged by war, it might seem a little frivolous to focus on freedom of belief or freedom of religion, because there are other needs that seem more pressing, and indeed they are, at present.”
Ayuso emphasized the centrality of freedom of belief to human dignity:
“Freedom of belief is like the freedom of freedoms. Without it, people would not have the status of human beings.“
Finally, he highlighted the need to make diversity of belief visible in order to strengthen coexistence:
”to give visibility to religion, because it can be a pillar, and in fact is a pillar, for laying the foundations for a future and a better society in which everyone can live in peace.”
Five awards, five approaches
This year, for the first time, the awards were expanded from three to five, incorporating awards that recognize the practical work of religious communities and their direct contribution to dialogue and coexistence.
Professor Salvador Pérez Álvarez – Positive secularism and culture of peace
The first award winner of the night was Salvador Pérez Álvarez, Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the UNED, presented by Professor Fernando Amérigo-Cuervo, who highlighted his academic career and his commitment to freedom of conscience and bioethics.
In his speech, Pérez reflected on the constitutional principles that guarantee religious freedom:
“Positive state secularism is the institutional guarantee, the constitutional pillar that underpins the full enjoyment of religious freedom by all citizens in an increasingly pluralistic society, under conditions of real and effective equality.”
He warned of the growing risk of hate speech in society:
“This argument is becoming increasingly radicalized and, what is more worrying, in my humble opinion, it is becoming increasingly prevalent in different social sectors.”
He called for a collective commitment to address these threats:
“We cannot stand idly by in the face of this new form of threat to coexistence on the grounds of religious differences.”
Finally, he linked freedom of belief to the construction of a more just society:
“The fulfillment of this requirement has served as the basis for the implementation of a genuine culture of peace as a sustainable development goal.”
Professor Óscar Salguero Montaño – Diversity, respect, and dialogue
The second prize went to Óscar Salguero Montaño, professor and social anthropologist at the Complutense University of Madrid, presented by UAM professor Ana Isabel Planet, who highlighted his commitment to social change and the promotion of coexistence.
Salguero began by recalling the words of Jürgen Habermas after 9/11, which remain fully valid:
“Secular citizens must stop understanding religions as atavistic realities and, on the other hand, religious citizens and their representatives must open themselves to dialogue with modernity, far from any fundamentalist attitude.”
She explained how freedom of belief underpins social diversity:
“This freedom of belief enables each and every one of us to live according to our deepest convictions, whether political, religious, or non-religious, and always under the crystal-clear prism of respect and coexistence.”
He warned against the political exploitation of beliefs:
“We see how religious beliefs are increasingly being exploited to generate conflict or used as an excuse to limit rights.”
And he linked this challenge to the fragility of peace:
“Coexistence and interreligious respect are fragile values that we must protect and defend.”
Professor Javier García Oliva – An international perspective on rights
The third award recognized the work of Javier García Oliva, Professor of Constitutional Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences at the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), presented by UCM Professor Santiago Cañamares.
García Oliva recalled the historical challenges to religious freedom and their current impact:
“It is disheartening to think that this person had to live in fear and hide their beliefs.”
Referring to the contemporary reality, he warned:
“In many parts of the world, including Western Europe, many citizens face serious problems, even death, in exercising their religious freedom.”
He emphasized the need for a balance between fundamental rights:
“Religious freedom is a fundamental and non-negotiable right in a democracy, but it can only be fully enjoyed if other fundamental rights are respected.”
Mr. Luis Morente Leal – Buddhism and equality in diversity
The fourth award was presented to Luis Morente Leal, representative of the Buddhist Union of Spain and a lawyer with decades of experience in defending equal treatment for minority faiths.
Morente spoke about the importance of knowledge as the basis for respect:
“Knowing and dealing with other people who think differently from me has not only enriched me, but has also made me understand in all its depth the phrase that to know is to love.”
He shared personal experiences of discrimination:
“I have experienced discrimination in my own country for two reasons. One, when I had an African girlfriend. And another, when some people found out that I was a Buddhist.”
He defended diversity as an enriching element of society:
“Diversity enriches us. And diversity is not only what is in line with our religion, it is also the person who has a code of ethics.”
And he expressed his desire for a peaceful future:
“May some generation in this world finally live without hatred, live without wars, and live knowing others and, above all, knowing themselves.”
Pandit Krishna Kripa Dasa – Recognition and interreligious dialogue
The last award went to Pandit Krishna Kripa Dasa, president of the Hindu Federation of Spain, for his work in representing and uniting Hindu communities, as well as his proactive participation in multiple interreligious spaces, such as the TRANSCENDENCE International Forum, among others.
Krishna Kripa Dasa recalled the daily coexistence in his hometown, Ceuta:
“In Ceuta, coexistence is not an academic exercise or a matter of diplomacy, but something that is lived on a daily basis.”
He defended the millennial status of Hinduism as a religion deeply rooted in the world and in Spain:
“Hinduism has 1.2 billion followers, a presence in 145 countries, and 130 years of history in Spain.”
He pointed out the need to avoid the fragmentation of communities and explained the inclusive vision of his tradition:
“The truth is one, but the sages call it by different names.”
Religious freedom: a living practice
To close the event, Iván Arjona Pelado, president of the Foundation and representative of Scientology to the European institutions and the United Nations, thanked the award winners and all those present, emphasizing that religious freedom is a collective effort:
“Today we have seen that religious freedom is not only a legal right, but a living practice that builds more just and peaceful societies.”
The ceremony concluded with a group photo and a call to continue working together for coexistence, cooperation, and respect among all beliefs.
A consolidated event on the religious freedom calendar
With this twelfth edition, the Religious Freedom Awards reaffirm their role as a meeting platform for religious communities, institutions, and human rights defenders. The Foundation’s international recognition, thanks to its status with the UN, has made these awards a European benchmark in the defense of freedom of belief, with a view to building societies where diversity is understood as a source of wealth and not as a threat.
The closing remarks of the evening also reflected on the origins and vision that made these awards possible. The Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society, established by the Church of Scientology, draws inspiration from the teachings of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who emphasized that “religious freedom is the first freedom.” Under the leadership of Mr. David Miscavige, the Church has expanded its humanitarian and interfaith initiatives worldwide, fostering dialogue and understanding among communities of diverse beliefs. This global vision continues to guide the Foundation’s efforts to defend the rights of all individuals to practice their faith freely and to promote a culture of peace and coexistence.
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