Press Release

The alarming global trends of rising religious persecution and what more the United States government needs to do to protect vulnerable religious minorities such as persecuted Christians in the Middle East, were the subjects of a hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today entitled “The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom.” 

“The world is witnessing a global religious freedom crisis that poses a direct challenge to U.S. interests in the Middle East, Asia, China, and Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Smith, Chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee.  “Ancient religious communities face extinction, young women are sold into slavery because they are considered apostates, religion-related terrorism and violence are on the rise, and religious believers face torture, beheadings, and long-prison sentences for simply trying to live out their faith. The grim global realities suggest that the current State Department’s efforts are insufficient to stem the rise of persecution and the decline of religious freedom globally. It is worth asking why and what can be done better. It is worth asking whether new tools are needed to help U.S. religious freedom diplomacy address one of the great crises of the 21^st century.  If we don’t act, the problems will only get worse.”  Click here to read Chairman Smith’s opening statement.  

October 27^th is the global commemoration of International Religious Freedom, marking the anniversary of the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The U.S. also recognizes January 16^th as Religious Freedom Day. 

The hearing featured the U.S. State Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, David Saperstein and Robert P. George, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan and independent government advisory body. It was the first time, during the Obama Administration, that an Ambassador for Religious Freedom testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  Both discussed religious freedom conditions in countries such as China, Nigeria and Pakistan, and offered recommendations on ways to address persistent religious persecution globally. 

In his testimony, Ambassador Saperstein highlighted the challenges of religious persecution and religion-based violence in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Vietnam, and Sudan.  He also discussed the challenges of a persistent anti-Semitism in Europe and some of the progress made by the State Department coordinating diplomacy globally with Canada. 

Ambassador Saperstein said, “We continue to face daunting, alarming, and growing challenges to religious freedom around the world. To address these challenges, we are building new partnerships, investing in new programs, increasing our staff, and continuing to coordinate with U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).” Click here to read the Ambassador’s written testimony.

Robert George, the Chairman of the bipartisan USCIRF, agreed with assessment that religious freedom is under serious and sustained pressure globally, but offered recommendations for how the State Department could improve its efforts to protect this fundamental freedom.   Dr. George recommended that the State Department use all the tools available in the landmark International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and other measures to address the religious freedom challenges of the 21^st century.  He gave specific examples of how such tools may work in the countries of Vietnam, Tajikistan, and Pakistan.

Dr. George said, “Religious freedom…merits a seat at the table with economic and security concerns as the U.S. and other nations conduct their affairs...in countries that honor and protect this right, religious freedom generally is associated with vibrant political democracy, rising economic and social well-being, and diminished tension and violence. In contrast, nations that trample on religious freedom are more likely to be mired in poverty and insecurity, war and terror, and violent, radical extremism. This instability directly bears not only on the well-being of those societies, but the security of the United States and overall global stability.”  Click here to read Dr. George’s opening statement.

Congressman Smith’s bill, HR 1150, the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, was endorsed by Dr. George as an important step in upgrading the State Department’s ability to address religious persecution and religion-related violence.  The bipartisan bill, authored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) with the lead co-sponsorship of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), would strengthen U.S. diplomatic initiatives for religious freedom, including the training of diplomats in counter extremism to enhance their roles in U.S. response, and re-program State Department resources toward religious freedom protection and promotion.  

The bill has broad ecumenical and bipartisan support, including from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and over 80 ethnic minority groups and religious organizations, including Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Bahi’i, and Jewish groups.

“The problem we face will not disappear anytime soon,” said Smith.  “We know that countries with high levels of religious freedom are more prosperous, have less religion-related violence and terrorism, and are more democratic.  More robust efforts to advance religious freedom diplomatically will advance U.S. interests around the world and help protect vulnerable religious minorities.  The stakes are too high and the suffering too great to downplay religious freedom as a priority of U.S. foreign policy.”

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