New U.S. Secretary of State Concurs with Predecessor’s Condemnation of ‘Genocide’ in China
Secretary of State Antony Blinken endorses Mike Pompeo's denunciation of the Chinese Communist Party for committing “genocide” against the Uyghurs.
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February 11, 2020 •
International Religious Freedom Alliance Launched in Washington
U. S. State Department launched the International Religious Freedom Alliance February 5 in Washington, D.C.
July 12, 2019 •
Religious Freedom: The Focus in Washington
Religious freedom is once again taking center stage, as officials, religious leaders and human rights advocates from across the world head for Washington, D.C., and the Second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. As many as 115 invited foreign ministers are expected to attend.
July 30, 2018 •
Comments on the First Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom
Chair of Bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga put last week’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom into perspective.
June 18, 2018 •
U.S. Urges Russia to Release Religious and Political Prisoners
The Trump administration is calling on Russia to release more than 150 political or religious prisoners and to cease suppressing dissent and peaceful religious practice.
May 30, 2018 •
Pompeo Pledges to Make Religious Freedom a Priority
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged the administrations support for religious freedom May 29 at a news conference to release the annual International Religious Freedom Report.
November 16, 2017 •
USCIRF Explains Why it Urges the State Department to Include Russia and Pakistan on the Countries of Particular Concern List
In the annual report, released in April, USCIRF recommended that 16 countries be designated CPCs: Burma, Central African Republic, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
September 14, 2017 •
State Department to Close Office of Religion and Global Affairs
In an article published in Religion & Politics September 5, Shaun Casey, former U.S. State Department Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs, wrote of his frustration with the State Department and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Tillerson’s decision to close the Office of Religion and Global Affairs.
July 20, 2017 •
U.S. State Department Tells Russia to Cease Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses
In a statement issued July 19, the U.S. State Department called on Russia to end its persecution of minority religions. This was prompted by the Russia Supreme Court’s decision upholding an April ruling labeling Jehovah’s Witnesses “extremist.”
January 17, 2017 •
Ambassador Brings Live Religious Freedom Discussion to Facebook
David N. Saperstein departed his position this month as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom in the U.S. Department of State.
