WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) June 3, 2020 — Religious liberty organizations praised President Trump for signing an Executive Order that they say will advance international religious freedom as a priority in U.S. foreign policy.
“Millions of Christians around the world suffer for their faith. Now they and other people persecuted for their religion have a stronger friend in the U.S. government,” said Wendy Wright, president of Christian Freedom International. Christian Freedom International regularly engages with U.S. officials in our work to aid, equip and advocate for persecuted Christians.
“President Trump’s order strengthens the U.S. government’s ability to vigorously promote religious freedom worldwide and advocate for individuals who are persecuted for their faith – especially in countries that are the worst violators. It reflects the reality that religious freedom is a fundamental right and essential for security.”
The order declares religious freedom is “a moral and national security imperative” and the U.S. will “respect and vigorously promote this freedom” worldwide. It builds on a 2017 National Security Strategy that views religious freedom “not as a creation of the state, but as a gift of God to every person” and a fundamental right for “the flourishing of our society.”The Executive Order on Advancing International Religious Freedom:
- Requires the State Department to develop a plan to prioritize international religious freedom in foreign policy and foreign assistance programs.
- Assigns $50 million for the State Department and USAID to fund programs that promote and defend religious freedom abroad.
- Tells diplomats to step up efforts to hold countries accountable for violating religious freedom.
- Tell diplomats to raise concerns about individual cases of persecution with their foreign counterparts, and advance religious freedom in bilateral and multilateral fora.
- Tells U.S. officials to ensure faith-based or religious groups are not discriminated against when it comes to foreign assistance programs and funding.
- Requires State Department employees to be trained in international religious freedom every 3 years.
- Highlights the Treasury Secretary’s ability to impose sanctions on people involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption.
The Executive Order calls religious communities and groups “vital partners” in advancing religious freedom worldwide.
Liberty Counsel, in a statement, said President Trump has proven to be a strong advocate for religious freedom and faith-based organizations. During his first year in office, he signed an executive order to uphold religious liberty and the right to engage in religious speech. The Trump administration has partnered with organizations around the world to aid persecuted religious minorities and has hosted multiple Religious Freedom Ministerial summits where government and religious leaders from around the world convened to fight religious persecution.
“I commend President Trump for continuing to protect and advance religious freedom in the United States and worldwide,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “The president has shown a strong commitment to protecting and promoting religious freedom. It is critically important for those persecuted for their faith that the president sends this clear message that America stands with them. When America is silent, people suffer. Historic strides forward have been made in just a few short years to make religious liberty a priority.”
The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a nonprofit working to secure a future for all Nigerians, also issued a statement in support of the executive order.
“We are incredibly grateful to President Trump for prioritizing international religious freedom. This new order demonstrates a continued commitment to promoting and protecting religious freedoms abroad by stopping crimes against people of faith – and it comes at a critical time for Nigeria.
been reported that Nigerian Christians who are in desperate need of food support during COVID-19 are getting ‘relief scraps’ compared to Muslims. This is not acceptable.
ICON added that the president’s order follows a recent increase in Congressional support for addressing the crisis in Nigeria. Recently Senator Grassley spoke about the need for action on the Senate floor, and sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking what the Administration is doing to ensure “that Christians and other religious minorities in Africa’s most populous country are safe from persecution,” and about the status of requests to appoint a special envoy to Nigeria. Senator Joni Ernst sent a letter to President Trump saying, “we must not lose sight of the long-term threats to Christians in Nigeria… your leadership can stop the violence and save lives.”The letters, and President Trump’s executive order, follow the April publication of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2020 Annual Report, which documents the state of religious freedoms around the world. The report is critical because Nigeria is listed as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, among other things. A CPC designation is considered the most serious category of documenting religious freedom violations and infringement.
As part of its global Silent Slaughter campaign, ICON tracks and reports the atrocities taking place in Nigeria every day. The tracker can be found here.
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