US Senate resolution hailed for cracking down on religious freedom violators

March 4, 2024

A resolution calling for the U.S. government to address and penalize violators of religious liberty around the globe has been passed by the U.S. Senate. According to The Christian Post, the resolution recognizes religious liberty as a “fundamental right.”

The resolution is part of a bipartisan initiative led by Senators Chris Coons, D-Del, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Tim Kaine, D-Va, and James Lankford, R-Okla.

Sen. Coons said in a statement:

“The right to religious freedom is an American ideal and the cornerstone of our nation’s identity. Protecting religious minorities must remain central to American foreign policy, and we must call out and condemn attacks on religious people and nonbelievers alike. I’m proud to join with a bipartisan group of colleagues in this effort to make clear that this must remain a priority for our country’s international relations moving forward.”

The Christian Post reports that in 2023, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom identified over 2200 individuals targeted by 27 different countries and other entities for their religious beliefs. Those targeted included Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists.

The commission also identified the ongoing destruction of religious sites as an additional threat to religious freedom.

The resolution specifically mentions what it calls “dire situations” in Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Nicaragua. Blasphemy laws and the arbitrary detainment of individuals are tools from preventing believers from expressing their religious identity.

The resolution is also supported by Freedom House and the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Photo: top, Credit: John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images