UN Rapporteur on religious freedom to visit Jordan next week

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, will next week visit Jordan to assess the promotion and protection of freedom of religion and belief in the Kingdom. Bielefeldt said he would like to understand better how Jordan, which is located in a very complicated environment, is managing its religious diversity based on equal respect for the religious convictions of all, the UN radio reported. This is the first visit to Jordan by an independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor the freedom of religion or belief in all parts of the world. During his 10-day visit, Bielefeldt will meet with relevant officials, representatives of religious or belief communities and civil society organizations in Amman, Karak, Adasya and the Zaatari refugee camp. He is set to highlight the preliminary outcome of his visit at a press conference to be held on September 10th in Amman, and will also provide a report and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in 2014.