Strasbourg, 8 July 2025

We are proud to share that Liberals Mauritania took part in a high-level forum on secularism held at the European Parliament, at the official invitation of the European Secularist Network (ESN). The event brought together influential voices from across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to build joint strategies for protecting freedom of conscience, secular governance, and minority rights amid rising authoritarianism and religious extremism.

A Sahelian Voice for Minority Rights and Universal Principles

As one of the few liberal political movements active in the Sahel, we used this platform to speak directly to the vulnerability of minorities in our region and to affirm secularism as their essential safeguard.

Our head Yahya Ekhou, addressed the forum with a clear message:

“Freedom of thought and belief is not negotiable. In our region, these principles are under attack, and too often the world stays silent. We must stand together to defend the right of every human being to think freely, speak openly, and live with dignity.”

This statement reflects a conviction at the heart of our work: secularism is not a Western concept, but a universal principle that protects minorities everywhere from theocratic dominance and enforced conformity.

Building Cross-Border Solidarity

The forum gave us the opportunity to engage directly with Members of the European Parliament, including Estelle Ceulemans, as well as with representatives of leading secular and humanist organizations. Together, we discussed:

• Concrete mechanisms to protect minorities and freethinkers living under authoritarian rule
• Long-term partnerships between African and European liberal movements
• The role EU institutions can play in linking development aid to human rights standards, including protections for minorities

The forum closed with a joint declaration calling for stronger international coordination among secular organizations with particular urgency around extending protection to activists in exile or living under regimes hostile to freedom of belief. We fully support this call and see it as essential to the safety of those we advocate for.

Our Commitment Going Forward

Our participation in this forum reaffirms our commitment to being a voice for democratic values, secularism, and minority rights on the international stage. The struggle for pluralism and intellectual freedom does not stop at our borders, and we believe solidarity across regions is essential to resisting forces of oppression.

We extend our gratitude to the European Secularist Network and our allies in the European Parliament for recognizing the importance of amplifying voices from underrepresented regions like ours. This event reinforced our ongoing work to defend freedom of expression and to promote the rights of women, minorities, and former believers both in Mauritania and beyond.

More Than a Meeting A Mandate

In a global climate where regressive ideologies seek to dominate, we left Strasbourg with renewed resolve. This was not simply a symbolic gathering it was a call to action, and one we intend to answer.