With the Taliban back in power, influencing them away from their regressive roots will be difficult. Human rights abusers China, Russia,...

The absence of a religious freedom ambassador left no strong advocate for this basic human right during recent debates at State. (RNS) —...

In 2014, ISIS swept through Iraq, killing, displacing, and kidnapping thousands of Yazidis. In this post, Knox Thames writes about the...

From All Saints’ Day to the International Day of Prayer, let’s honor beleaguered believers by following three rules in advocating for...

After more than two decades at the forefront of U.S. international religious freedom efforts, a former State Department special advisor...

Recent reports from CSW and USCIRF highlight the pressures put on Sri Lanka’s religious minorities. Two reports about religious freedom...

If the world truly intends to prevent atrocities, an obvious task is before us. When Pope Francis visited Iraq this year, he met and...

A hidden pandemic of persecution confronts people around the globe for the most personal of reasons. Repression and hate force...

This week’s U.N. General Assembly provides an opportunity to assist the minorities, activists, women, and girls still in Afghanistan. The...

New Atlanticist by Rehman Chishti and Knox Thames With Afghanistan grabbing global headlines, it’s easy to forget about another...

The National Football League is mediocre, and NFL owners have no incentive to improve. Enormous television contracts, local government...

The unfolding catastrophe in Afghanistan has been shocking to observe. The speedy collapse of the central government and rapid Taliban...

Spoke about Afghanistan and the situation for human rights should the Taliban rule again with Emily Buchanan from BBC Radio. Starting at...

August 3 is a day burned into the memory of every Yazidi. In 2014, ISIS rolled into their home province of Sinjar and a nightmare of...

Enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion with Karen Ellis from the Edmiston Center. Shared my personal theology for why Christians should...

What Can the US Do? Encouraging South Asian nations to protect their historic multiculturalism will help reduce human rights violations,...

Moderated a great panel at the IRF Summit with Rep. Ro Khanna, Amjad Khan, Bob Fu and Barnabas Fund on legal limitations impacting...

An Afghan Woman from a Threatened Minority Wrestles with What Happens When the U.S. Withdraws “I am afraid of the future,” wrote...

Such statements that bridge faiths are rare, based on my two decades working on religious freedom. Christians need to make more. While...

Below, find my reading list over the past months and years (updated regularly). My tastes are eclectic, including current affairs, sports, leadership, and faith. But I always enjoy reading history, especially as learning about the past helps me understand today. As you'll see, some books I loved, while others less so. My comments will help you figure out which is which. 2025 Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth has been a bestseller for years, telling the fictional stor