05
August
Family of detained pastor evicted from their home
Family forced out of home after their husband and father is arrested for standing up for freedom in Cuba.
24
July
International Religious Freedom Summit 2021
The Summit this month in Washington D.C. is Bipartisan, Multifaith conference bringing together an array of faith and political leaders with the goal of tackling discrimination around the globe. This is a significant event!
27
June
International Religious Freedom Summit July 2021
The International Religious Freedom Summit is July 13-15 in Washington D.C. and it will also be available online.
27
June
For freedom: Protect those of faith in Egypt
Coptic Christians are still targeted in Egypt
23
June
Key Findings Regarding Christian Persecution in China for 2020
China’s ongoing persecution of Christians is not new news. But organizations such as ChinaAid keep us all up to date on the latest happenings. This is a summary of most recent China Aid report.
09
June
United States Commission on Religious Freedom Annual Report on International Freedom 2021
Each year the United States Commission on Religious Freedom releases an Annual Report on International Freedom.
03
May
Christian MP in Finland Supporting Biblical Marriage and Sexualtiy Charged with Hate Crimes
This isn’t hate speech, its opinion….. and it cant be criminalized in a society that allow free speech. This is intimidation at its finest. This should be covered by mainstream media but will not be.
Mubarak Bala in an undated photo. Courtesy photo
30
April
Global pressure mounts for Nigerian atheist’s release after year in detention
While ‘religious freedom’ is often associated with defending particular faith communities, to be truly realized it must pertain to everyone. That includes those who choose to hold no particular faith at all.
28
April
Christian pastor arrested for making 'homophobic statements' after preaching from the Bible
Elderly Christian pastor in London, England says he was treated 'shamefully' after being arrested for making 'homophobic statements' after preaching from the Bible.
27
April
Governments Don't Get a Pass on Violating Religious Freedom in a Pandemic
While the pandemic prevented our team from meeting in-person with victims of religious persecution, abusive governments around the world do not get a free pass to deny the fundamental right of freedom of religion or belief.
30
December
Legal Restrictions to Religious Freedom in Brunei
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has done a series of excellent reports on specific nations and their activities on religious freedom. Here is a recent Spotlight episode on Brunei
19
December
Intolerance in India continues to grow
The failure of government leaders to condemn acts of violence on minorities has contributed to growing fears amongst faith groups.
Government officials in Shanxi’s Taiyuan city destroyed a temple’s religious books and threw them to the trash.
15
December
The Chinese government has turned up the pressure on Christians withing China
After banning anyone under 18 from even entering a church building they are now going after printed material. Books that were previously published are now being used as evidence to sentence printers and authors to long term prison sentence.
23
October
Answering the Call to Protect Religious Freedom: A Year in Review
A report from the U.S. Department of State on work to protect religious freedom over the past year.
03
October
Religious freedom under assault in 'Europe's last dictatorship'
Belarus President Lukashenko makes no secret of his atheism. He has mostly refrained from overt actions against religious groups, but now there are worrying signs that his government is actively undermining the independence of religious groups.
Representative Image (social media)
12
September
If Dalits can be Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, why can’t they be Christians and Muslims?
Christian and Muslim Dalits have been denied benefits available to SC groups among Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. A petition challenging the discrimination has been pending in Supreme Court for years
03
September
USCIRF Encourages Religious Freedom Progress on Vietnam National Day
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) congratulated the government of Vietnam on its National Day, and encouraged the government to take steps to improve religious freedom conditions in the country.
A child from the Uyghur community living in Turkey participates in a protest in Istanbul on November 6, 2018, against oppression by the Chinese government of Muslim Uyghurs in the far-western Xinjiang province. >Credit: AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis
21
August
China Buys Turkey’s Silence on Uyghur Oppression
A quick explanation of how China uses economic leverage to silence Turkey on the Uyghur issue, coauthored by my colleague and friend, Aykan Erdemir.
A petition challenging the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order, issued on August 10, 1950, is now pending in the Supreme Court. (Representative image of the Supreme Court in New Delhi)
10
August
70-year wait for Dalit Christians, Muslims on SC verdict over caste status
Five days before India celebrates her 73rd anniversary of Independence, Dalit Christians and Muslims will mark a grimmer anniversary of the date when the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order was issued on August 10, 1950.
21
July
Sterilizations, IUDs, and Mandatory Birth Control
The CCP’s Campaign to Suppress Uyghur Birthrates in Xinjiang
A monitor displays the words "Commission on Unalienable Rights" behind Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
17
July
Pompeo says US should limit which human rights it defends
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has argued for a more limited U.S. view of global human rights advocacy based on the principles laid out by America's Founding Fathers, a suggestion critics assumed meant stepping away from more modern concepts.
15
July
Can Human Rights Advocacy Resolve the North Korea Nuclear Impasse?
North Korea’s weapons programs and human rights violations derive from the same root causes: the government’s perception of its insecurity and lack of transparency.
08
July
The Truro Review
United Kingdom Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (FCO) Support for Persecuted Christians
02
July
President Ji needs to go
The most populous nation in the world is a critical international player and needs to take a credible role in the world. And the present leadership is making a mockery of his own people.
President and Mrs. Trump visit the John Paul II Shrine prior to the President signing the Executive Order. (Photo credit: LifeSite News)
05
June
A Huge Step for Advancing International Religious Freedom
President Trump has issued an executive order “Advancing International Religious Freedom.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy commends the President for his ongoing commitment to defend persecuted Christians and other religious believers.
