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Writer's pictureKnox Thames

Ending Religious Persecution

A twenty-first century challenge

A pandemic is sweeping the world–not COVID, but a pandemic of religious persecution affecting many faith communities. China is committing genocide against Uighur Muslims, Burma against Rohingya Muslims. Both countries also crush the free expression of Christianity. Extremists in India and Pakistan target religious minorities with a vengeance. ISIS and others terrorize Yazidis, Christians, and other groups in the Middle East. In the face of this pandemic of hatred and violence, my book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom, offers new ideas and practical solutions.


No one should live in fear of persecution for peacefully practicing belief or non-belief. My driving conviction is that every person has a fundamental right to follow his conscience wherever it leads. Human flourishing will come more quickly when all people can believe (or not believe) as they choose. 


Religious freedom is an essential human right and a cornerstone of democratic society. It allows individuals to practice their religion without fear of persecution, discrimination, or oppression from the government or other groups. Inclusive religious freedom can foster diverse and tolerant societies where individuals express their religious views without fear of retribution. It also enables individuals to form their own belief communities and freely associate with others who share their convictions. Overall, religious freedom can promote social harmony, reduce conflict, and help to build stronger, more cohesive communities. 


Daily headlines, however, confirm that religious persecution worldwide continues unabated. In this context the United States has an indispensable role to play in promoting human rights and religious freedom. Our domestic problems tempt us to ignore challenges beyond our shores, even as this decision leaves countless innocents to suffer. It also fosters instability, extremism, migration, and human rights violations on a massive scale. But we should humbly address these crises from our position of hard-earned experience, leveraging our global reach and influence. 


The United States can and should lead the world to defeat religious persecution, but it needs a reinvented and reinvigorated policy to be effective. For two decades I worked in various diplomatic roles promoting religious freedom internationally on behalf of the United States. I witnessed the power of American influence for good, but I also saw occasions when our good intentions failed to turn the tide of persecution. We should be proud of how we promote American values abroad—it is a diplomatic distinctive of the United States. Over the years, however, multiple administrations have invested millions in combating persecution without reassessing their approaches based on results. Despite special offices, ambassadors, and summits, grim statistics of religious restrictions remain seemingly unchanged.


Based on those experiences, Ending Persecution explains the nature of religious persecution and proposes new strategies to respond. I challenge our country to reaffirm its commitment to defeating this threat, exposing the reality of religious persecution and arguing for a holistic response to fight for freedom of conscience for everyone. 


Persecution continues as governments and authoritarian regimes want to set the rules of the road on the highway to heaven—with stiff penalties for unapproved lane changes. Not only do governments persecute, but extremists and terrorists will stop at nothing to victimize any who challenge their twisted interpretations or represent different beliefs. Studies from the Pew Research Center indicate that eighty-four percent of the global population believes in God or a higher power. At the same time, roughly two-thirds of humanity lives in countries with significant restrictions on faith practices. This is a recipe for human rights violations and unrest, as people struggle to peacefully live out their faith.


My book considers four types of repression affecting millions: Terrorism by groups like the Taliban and ISIS, government-sponsored genocides against Uighur and Rohingya Muslims, cultural climate change due to extremism, and democratic rule trampling minority rights. I offer a unique perspective on the state of global religious persecution, drawing from my twenty years of U.S. government service in Republican and Democratic administrations, arguing for a revitalized response to fight for freedom of conscience for everyone. My goal in this book isn’t just to observe the problem from afar but to recommend new approaches to meet the challenge by practically examining these different kinds of persecution. 


To be clear, the U.S. has helped individuals fleeing persecution, and we should all be proud of these efforts. But good isn’t good enough to stop the global tidal wave of persecution. Moving forward, a paradigm shift utilizing modern tools and strategies is essential. This shift demands a recommitment to combat the age-old problem of religious persecution. Current structures are outdated, hampered by inefficiencies and competing priorities. Elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, support religious freedom and condemn persecution. Nevertheless, pressing concerns over trade, military alliances, and energy are often higher priorities. This realpolitik approach leads to little meaningful action to address the root causes of human rights abuses. 


In response I argue that the United States must reinvigorate its commitment. It should implement new ways of combating persecution abroad that reflect American values and interests. Despite good intentions, U.S. efforts have fallen short. We should analyze what works—and what does not. We must honestly revisit and reshape programs launched more than twenty-five years ago and reposition our efforts. These critical steps can prevent twenty-first century religious persecution from continuing into the twenty-second century. 


With religious repression at all-time highs and affecting every faith community, defeating persecution will be the defining challenge of this century. Millions will continue to suffer and die without new actions and new ideas. Changing course and implementing reforms can help countless individuals while fostering stability and peace worldwide. 

Considering human nature, religious persecution will continue. But we do not have to accept it. While ending religious persecution is an audacious goal, one thing is certain: It will never stop if we never try.


Knox Thames served in a State Department special envoy role during the Obama and Trump administrations, focusing on religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia. Ending Persecution was released on September 1, and portions of this article were excerpted from the book.


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