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News

President Aliyev Highlights Azerbaijan’s Religious Harmony in Letter to Pope Francis

Baku, December 24 (AZERTAC) – President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has underscored the significant role of the Christian community in Azerbaijani society in a letter to Pope Francis on the occasion of Christmas. “The Christian community holds a distinctive place in modern Azerbaijani society. Our Christian citizens, who have settled in Azerbaijan and lived here […]

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News Report

Religious freedom advocates congratulate Rubio on nomination to lead US State Department, call for greater focus on religious prisoners of conscience

WASHINGTON, DC: ADF International, along with participants of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, an informal coalition of organizations, religious and secular leaders, advocates, and scholars dedicated to the protection of religious freedom, today sent a letter to Senator Marco Rubio to congratulate him on his nomination to Secretary of State and press for him to prioritize […]

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Opinion

In a Dangerous World, the UK Must Stand Firm on Religious Freedom

Writing for the UK-based outlet CapX, RFI’s Miles Windsor recently published a piece applauding the UK government’s reappointment of a special envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, an especially important step given the world’s “bleak and declining” religious freedom landscape. Windsors writes: Given the current state of the geopolitical landscape and the grave implications for minority […]

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Book

Knox Thames Discusses His Book, “Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom”

Notre Dame Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies hosted a lecture by Knox Thames, an international human rights lawyer, on his new book, “Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom,” published by the University of Notre Dame Press. Building off his extensive experience, Thames offered strategies […]

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News Report

US Ambassador Donald Blome Reaffirms Commitment to Religious Freedom, Human Rights, and Economic Growth During Karachi Visit

KARACHI: U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome concluded a two-day visit to Karachi on Wednesday, during which he emphasized Washington’s dedication to promoting religious freedoms, civil rights, and economic collaboration. His visit included meetings with key government officials, business leaders, and human rights advocates, reflecting the United States’ broader commitment to advancing shared values and […]

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News Report

Pope Francis Survives Two Assassination Attempts During Historic Visit to Iraq

In a stunning revelation, Pope Francis disclosed that he narrowly escaped two assassination attempts during his groundbreaking visit to Iraq in March 2021. One of the attempts involved a young woman who was suspected of trying to carry out a suicide bombing. These chilling incidents took place in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city and a former […]

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News Report

Syria’s New Leadership: Christians Cautiously Celebrate Regime Change

Syrian Christians Attend First Mass Since Assad’s Ouster, Express Hope for Future LATAKIA, SYRIA – Dec. 17 – In the northwestern port town of Latakia, Christian worshippers gathered at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Sunday, attending their first Mass since the dramatic overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad a week prior. A sense of cautious […]

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News

European Parliament Re-establishes Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Brussels, Belgium – The European Parliament has taken a significant step to protect religious freedom by re-establishing the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This bipartisan initiative, co-chaired by Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP, ECR) and Miriam Lexmann (EPP), aims to address the growing global threat to religious freedom. The re-establishment of the intergroup comes at […]

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Opinion

A Pluralistic Approach to Religious Freedom

A Call for a More Inclusive Understanding In today’s complex world, religious freedom remains a vital but often contested issue. While the right to freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in international law, its practical implementation varies widely across different countries and cultures. Dr. Jaclyn Neo, an associate professor at the National University of […]

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News

MRM Launches to Empower Religious Minorities in Pakistan, says Pervez Rafique

Lahore: In a significant development for Pakistan’s religious minorities, the Minorities Rights Movement (MRM) has officially launched, with the aim of empowering and protecting minority rights across the nation. Pervez Rafique, former Member of the Punjab Assembly and Central President of the MRM, shared the organization’s mission and vision in an exclusive interview with Gospel […]