The United States has reiterated its commitment to advocating for religious freedom and protecting religious minorities worldwide. According to the National Security Strategy released in December 2017, the U.S. aims to work with regional partners to safeguard minority communities from violence and preserve their cultural heritage.
Religious minorities often face persecution, repression, and discrimination globally. The U.S. government is actively working bilaterally and with allies to combat such persecution and promote religious freedom universally. Secretary Tillerson recently highlighted this concern by re-designating ten countries as "countries of particular concern" due to severe violations of religious freedom, while Pakistan was added to a Special Watch List for the first time.
In the Middle East, bipartisan agreement was reached that ISIS's actions against Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims constitute genocide. Efforts are underway to assist these groups in Iraq, helping them maintain their presence in ancestral homelands.
Knox Thames, serving as the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities at the State Department since 2015, has been providing strategic guidance on advocating for minority rights and promoting equal treatment in society. A partnership with the Smithsonian Institution aims to train leaders of minority faith communities on protecting culturally significant sites.
Internationally, the U.S., alongside Canada, leads efforts through the International Contact Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Additionally, cooperation with organizations like the Organization of American States seeks broader support against persecution.
Despite ongoing challenges from groups like ISIS and authoritarian regimes such as North Korea, there remains a strong commitment to emphasizing religious freedom's universal importance. The approach aligns with the International Religious Freedom Act passed two decades ago which prioritizes promoting religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.
Reports continue highlighting specific instances where religious minorities face persecution: Christian pastors jailed in Iran; Baha’is mistreated in Yemen; non-Muslims imprisoned under blasphemy charges in Egypt; restrictions on religious freedoms in Saudi Arabia; anti-Semitic incidents globally; tight controls over religion in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan; China's campaign against religious practices; violence against Rohingya Muslims in Burma.
Terrorist attacks persistently target members of minority groups across regions including Pakistan and Iraq where ISIS affiliates have attacked churches and enslaved Yezidis among others.
Protecting religious freedom remains an American ideal inspired by historical figures like President George Washington who assured Jewish communities they would not face persecution as minorities within America.
About Knox Thames: He serves as Special Advisor for Religious Minorities focusing on Near East and South/Central Asia at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the U.S. Department of State.