International religious freedom Archives

Summit aims to build ‘global movement’ for religious freedom

Jul 21, 2021

Looking back on the 2021 International Religious Freedom Summit, co-chair Sam Brownback believes it accomplished the goal of building relationships between global religious leaders, and laying the foundation for what he hopes will be a “global movement.”

By John Lavenburg

UN investigator: Rights of minorities to worship undermined

Nov 5, 2020

The U.N. special investigator on religious freedom urged countries to repeal laws undermining the right of minorities to worship and hold beliefs, pointing as examples to China’s detention of Uighurs, 21 countries that criminalize apostasy, and sweeping surveillance of Christians in North Korea and Muslims in Thailand.

By Edith Lederer

Archbishop calls religious freedom ‘measure’ of respect for all rights

Aug 27, 2020

When religion is “instrumentalized or politicized for vested interests,” the cause of peace is put “in jeopardy,” an Indian archbishop has told a forum on religious liberty in the Asia-Pacific region.

By Nirmala Carvalho

China bans Cruz, Rubio, Smith, Brownback over criticism

Jul 13, 2020

China on Monday said it will ban entry to U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Representative Chris Smith and Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback over their criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s policies toward minority groups and people of faith.

By Associated Press

China vows retaliation against US sanctions over Xinjiang

Jul 10, 2020

China said Friday it will retaliate against U.S. officials and institutions following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on three local officials of the ruling Communist Party over human rights abuses in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

By Associated Press

US sanctions Chinese officials over repression of minorities

Jul 10, 2020

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party, including a member of the ruling Politburo, for alleged human rights abuses targeting ethnic and religious minorities that China has detained in the western part of the country.

By Deb Riechmann

UK Foreign Office asked to help religious minorities during coronavirus pandemic

Jun 3, 2020

The British government is being called on to assist religious minorities around the world who are facing further hardship due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

By Charles Collins

Forum examines religious persecution 75 years after Auschwitz liberation

Feb 8, 2020

As the world recognizes the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis’ infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, the vows of “never again” after the Holocaust’s horrors became known threaten to be swallowed up by religious persecution against Christians, Muslims and other groups, said panelists at a Feb. 5 forum at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

By Mark Pattison