The USCIRF calls on the governments of Thailand and Malaysia to admit boats carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees stranded at sea.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on the governments of Thailand and Malaysia to admit boats carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees stranded at sea. “Thai and Malaysian authorities must recognize their obligations under international law to refugees fleeing ethnic and religious violence,” USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin stated. “USCIRF urges…

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released the following statement urging immediate envorcing of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act

WASHINGTON, DC – The USCIRF (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) released the following statement urging the Administration to immediately enforce the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump: “Along with Congress, the official communication and policy of this administration has been unambiguous in expressing both concern and outrage over…

Living conditions for Christians and other religious minorities worldwide are rapidly worsening due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

“Our ability to act quickly is critical.” — Open Doors USASANTA ANA, CA — Living conditions for Christians and other religious minorities worldwide are rapidly worsening due to the Coronavirus outbreak, says Open Doors USA, an organization working with persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries. “Their situation is going from bad to worse,” said…

In the end, numbers & statistics will never suffice to capture the magnitude of the global persecution of Christians. “Too many to count, too many unknown,”

Recently we observed one of the International Day[s] of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (known by the acronym IDOP). Initiated over 20 years ago by the World Evangelical Alliance, 100,000 congregations around the world and millions of Christians participate on this day. “Let us unite in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters,” IDOP said…

Open Doors announced the 2020 World Watch List of religious persecution offenders: Christians in China experience unprecedented levels of persecution...

WASHINGTON – Today Open Doors announced the 2020 World Watch List of religious persecution offenders at a press conference in Washington, D.C, and revealed that Christians living in China are experiencing unprecedented levels of persecution, and their quality of life is deteriorating at an alarming rate. China jumped four spots, from #27 in 2019 to…

The U.S. State Department removed Sudan from its list of governments that are engaging in or tolerating systemic and ongoing religious freedom violations and has placed Nigeria, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a special watch list for “severe violations of religious freedom” for the first time.

The U.S. State Department removed Sudan from its list of governments that are engaging in or tolerating systemic and ongoing religious freedom violations and has placed Nigeria, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a special watch list for “severe violations of religious freedom” for the first time. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday the State Departments’…

Yael Eckstein shares her thoughts on Hanukkah & her prayer for the power of light to overcome the darkness of religious oppression wherever it exists.

Yael Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews, shares her thoughts on Hanukkah and her hope and prayer for divine intervention, for the power of light to overcome the darkness of religious oppression wherever it exists. Hanukkah, which began Sunday night this year, commemorates a great Jewish victory over oppression by the…

Australia Christian prayer leaders invite their brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, prayer networks and churches to join with them all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year's Day 2020.

UNANDERRA, AUSTRALIA – Australia Christian prayer leaders invite their brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, prayer networks and churches to join with them all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year’s Day 2020. This prayer gathering can take place at a public location such as a hill, lookout, landmark or church…

The World Economic Forum report is significant because it measures 12 pillars of productivity that ultimately affect the well-being of all residents.

GENEVA – The World Economic Forum (WEF) has generated its Global Competitiveness Index for 40 years. According to the WEF, “the report shows that those countries which integrate into their economic policies an emphasis on infrastructure, skills, research and development, and support those left behind are more successful compared to those that focus only on…

Christians around the world ought to pray for Kashmir as tensions in the region have spiked when India removed its long-established “special status”.

Rev. Joseph D’Souza, one of the most widely considered as one of the most influential voices of global Christianity discusses how Christians should respond to the crisis in Kashmir, and perspective for all Indian, Pakistani and all Christians to have in this dire situation. Christians around the world ought to pray for Kashmir as tensions…

International Religious Freedom bipartisan hearing on the perilous state of religious freedom for Christians in China, Nigeria, Iran & other places around the world.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairman of Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission along with Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), today held a bipartisan hearing on the perilous state of religious freedom for Christians in China, Nigeria, Iran and other places around the world. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, head of the U.S. State Department’s Office…

Release International has long campaigned for the repeal of the blasphemy laws. These notorious laws are often used to target minorities & take out rivals

OTTAWA – Asia Bibi is finally free 10 years after being imprisoned on spurious charges of blasphemy in Pakistan. She spent eight of those years in a cell on death row while Christians around the world prayed for her health, safety, and release. According to reports from the Canadian Broadcasting System and the British Pakistan…

The 2019 religious freedom report identifies 16 countries that engaged in or tolerated egregious violations. China sits prominently on that list.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has released its annual report in the aftermath of attacks on mosques in New Zealand, churches in Sri Lanka and synagogues in the United States. “It’s coming at a time when religious freedom concerns, for lots of reasons, are getting more attention across the board,” USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie…

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom cites dozens of countries but especially notes China’s repression of a range of religious beliefs.

WASHINGTON — With its particular focus on China’s oppression of religious and human rights, an independent watchdog group has decried in its annual report the state of religious freedom across the globe. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan organization created 20 years ago, concludes in its Monday (April 29) report that “innumerable…