RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson recently authored a piece for WORLD Magazine titled, “Fighting Religious Persecution.” In it, Patterson discusses the importance of the UN’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (designated as August 22) during this time of rising religious persecution around the world. Patterson writes:

Religious persecution and religion-justified violence are on the rise in the world today. That is why it is important that in 2019 the UN established Aug. 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The day passed without the fanfare that we should expect around our most important rights. Nonetheless, this UN-sponsored event is an opportune moment for Christians to pray against religious persecution and support the work of those countering oppression worldwide.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the legally binding International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed by nearly every country, proclaims:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change [one’s]religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest [one’s] religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.“

Read the full article here: “Fighting Religious Persecution.”