The Middle East and North Africa region is a hotbed of human rights violations and is one of the worst areas in the world when it comes to the right to religious freedom and the persecution of minority religious groups. It is right and important that much time is given to highlighting the crimes of perpetrators and challenging the lack …
A Good Week for Religious Freedom
This article was originally published by The Wall Street Journal on June 23, 2022 and appeared in the print edition the following day. *** DOWNLOAD PDF The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed that the state of Maine may not selectively discriminate against religious schools or the families who choose to send their children to them. Carson v. Makin is long overdue but …
RFI Joins 2022 International Religious Freedom Summit
The second annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. June 28-30. The goal of the Summit is to create “a powerful coalition of organizations that operate together for the cause of religious freedom around the world” with the aim of “increasing the public awareness and political strength for the international religious freedom …
Clash of the Acronyms? Finding The Right FoRBula in the Fight for Religious Freedom
In an article published this week in Religion Unplugged, Miles Windsor, Senior Manager for Strategy and Campaigns for RFI’s Middle East Action Team, discusses the importance of terminology in the fight for religious freedom. In particular, Windsor contrasts the term “international religious freedom,” which is used in the U.S., with the term “freedom of religion or belief,” which is gaining …
RFI’s Stephen Rasche Discusses Nigeria Massacre and Violence Against Christians
Stephen Rasche, RFI Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom in Conflict Regions, recently discussed the Pentecost Sunday massacre at a Catholic church in Nigeria on June 5, as well as the violence that Christians in Nigeria are facing generally. In an interview on EWTN’s podcast “Conversations with Consequences,” Rasche explained that while many news sources have claimed that the attack …
Advancing International Religious Freedom in the Special Relationship: A Transatlantic Conversation
EVENT SUMMARY In a moment when religious persecution is rising around the world, and atrocities are being committed without consequence, this event is an opportunity to reflect on the present efforts of the United Kingdom and the United States to address this problem, and explore where there is potential to improve our response for a greater impact. The IRFB Alliance, …
U.S. State Department Releases 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom
The U.S State Department released its 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom on June 2, 2022. This comprehensive report provides a broad overview of the state of religious freedom for almost 200 countries around the globe.
RFI’s Paul Marshall Discusses 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom
RFI’s Paul Marshall, Director of the South and Southeast Asia Action Team, was recently interviewed on EWTN News Nightly to discuss the State Department’s newly released 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom. The report contains data from nearly 200 countries and documents where religious freedom is lacking, as well as countries that have seen improvement.
How Liz Truss Can Champion Religious Freedom at U.K. Ministerial Conference
In an article published today in Newsweek, Miles Windsor, Senior Manager for Strategy and Campaigns with RFI’s Middle East Action Team, reflects on the challenges and opportunities that the upcoming International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to be held in London July 5-6, 2022, presents.
The Travail of International Religious Freedom, and of U.S. Leadership
In an article published recently in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s First Freedom Blog, RFI President Tom Farr writes, “In the 21st century, religious freedom is under growing pressure around the world, including in the United States. This alarming development should matter to all of us.”
Honoring the Legacy of Madeleine Albright
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright passed away yesterday,at 84 years of age. Secretary Albright’s family emigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1948. She did not realize her family’s Jewish ancestry until much later in life and had countless relatives who had perished in the Holocaust.
United Voices in U.S. Senate Introduce Legislation for USCIRF Reauthorization
On Tuesday, March 22, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a short and simple piece of legislation “to reauthorize the independent, bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) through fiscal year 2024.”
Grounds for passing the bill are clear and compelling.
“Does the Global Respect Act respect moral orthodoxy?”
In an article published recently in The Hill, RFI Senior Fellow for Europe Todd Huizinga argues: The Global Respect Act fails to respect morally orthodox religious people while the protections against violence it would provide, that might otherwise have merit, are already in federal law. The bill should be opposed.
RFI Leads Multiple Briefings at International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
RFI experts provided two days of briefings for 70 senior military chaplains from 30 countries as part of the 33rd annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC). RFI had planned to provide speakers for a live event in Washington, D.C., but the event transitioned to an online format in early January due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Crises Awaiting the New Ambassador for International Religious Freedom
RFI President Tom Farr recently authored an article published in RealClearReligion titled, “The Crises Awaiting the New Ambassador for International Religious Freedom.” In the article, Farr praises the Senate’s recent confirmation of Rashad Hussain as U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.
RFI Executive Vice President Remarks on U.S. Advancement of International Religious Freedom
RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson, in commemoration of the enactment of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, remarked this week on the current state of religious freedom around the world and the integral role the United States has in defending and advancing this fundamental right.
RFI Makes Key Contributions to Upcoming IRF Summit 2021
The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, the premier annual religious freedom summit in the United States, will take place July 13-15 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. The Summit seeks to “create a coalition of organizations that operate together for the cause of religious freedom around the world” and “increase public awareness and political strength for the international religious freedom movement.” The Summit will feature panels with prominent speakers including RFI President Tom Farr, Executive Vice President Eric Patterson, and Senior Fellow Rehman Chishti. To register for the Summit, click here.
Recommendations on U.S. International Religious Freedom Policy for the Biden Transition Team
As with the previous administrations, Thomas Farr, President of the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI), has provided the incoming Biden Administration with key recommendations concerning the advancement of U.S. international religious freedom (IRF) policy.
Journal of Christian Legal Thought Features RFI Scholars
The current issue of the Journal of Christian Legal Thought features articles by Timothy Shah, architect and scholar of the Religious Freedom Institute’s (RFI) Freedom of Religious Institutions in Society (FORIS) Project, and Daniel Philpott, senior associate scholar with RFI.
On Human Rights Day: Working for Religious Freedom for Everyone, Everywhere
Today, the world marks Human Rights Day to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ongoing efforts to realize the protection of fundamental rights around the world.
International Religious Freedom Should Remain Above the Partisan Fray
Today the Religious Freedom Institute marks International Religious Freedom Day 2020. With only a week until the November 3, 2020 election, it is worth emphasizing that advancing international religious freedom should remain far above the partisan fray—it is a matter that should not depend on any election. The next U.S. administration, regardless of electoral outcome, must continue to prioritize international religious freedom. The status quo for countless vulnerable religious communities around the world is an intolerable crisis.
Humanitarian Islam: Fostering shared civilizational values to revitalize a rules-based international order
In an essay recently published in Indonesia’s top foreign affairs journal, Timothy Shah, RFI’s Vice President for Strategy and International Research and Director of its South and Southeast Asia Action Team, discusses the global impact and influence of the world’s largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
U.S. State Department Releases 2015 International Religious Freedom Report Highlighting Evolving Threats to Religious Communities Globally
08/10/2016 Washington, D.C. (Religious Freedom Institute) Today the U.S. Department of State released its 2015 annual report on International Religious Freedom. The report highlights the evolving threats to religious communities globally and the work of the United States to advocate for religious freedom as part of its diplomatic efforts worldwide. “A robust understanding of religious freedom is crucial not only …
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