Human Rights specialist Prof. Dr. Bielefeldt honored by the President of Germany

Portrait Prof. Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt
Prof. Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt. Image: Harald Sippel

Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt was awarded the Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He thus was honored for his outstanding contribution to the academic sector and as a leading human rights expert of Germany. With his great personal commitment and outstanding competence, Prof. Bielefeldt has made a major contribution to the international reputation of the Federal Republic of Germany, states the president.

Prof. Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt holds the chair of Human Rights and Human Rights Policy at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology, since 2009. In the years 2010 to 2016, Prof. Bielefeldt also had a mandate as United Nations special rapporteur on questions of freedom of religion and belief. During this time he has been able to provide valuable impulses for interreligious dialogue and to make an important contribution to building trust between different religious communities and to strengthening civil society.