The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and other Republican senators on Tuesday introduced a resolution calling for continued U.S. leadership in protecting religious freedom around the world.
Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the committee chairman, noted in a statement the persecution of Christians in China, Syria and Africa and called on the administration to press its allies abroad to preserve religious freedom.
“All people deserve the internationally recognized right to practice their freedom of religion, share their convictions and live according to their beliefs without fear of reprisal. Here in America, we believe that all people are endowed with inalienable rights from their Creator and that religious freedom is a cornerstone of any free nation. America must continue to be a leader in defending religious freedom at home and abroad, and we must push our allies to do so as well,” said Sen. Risch.
The resolution comes as President Trump ramps up efforts to halt the persecution of Christian communities worldwide. He launched targeted strikes against Islamic State militants in Nigeria on Christmas and pledged to carry out more strikes if Christians continue to suffer there.
The Nigerian government has denied that the military strikes had anything to do with religion, and experts say Islamic militants and Boko Haram have killed far more Muslims in Nigeria than Christians.
Speaking Tuesday before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on Christian Persecution, Mr. Risch said a focus on protecting international religious freedom is essential, especially as China cracks down on all forms of religious expression.
“China continues to carry out policies of genocide and cultural erasure against Muslim Uyghurs and Tibetan Buddhists, destroys crosses and churches, and replaces images of Jesus Christ with Xi Jinping,” Mr. Risch said. “Just last week, Chinese authorities ramped up their recent attacks on Christian house churches in China, detaining more believers of the Early Rain Covenant Church simply for daring to practice their inalienable right to freedom of religion. This is in addition to the detention of even more Christians late last year.”
The GOP senators who co-signed resolution are: Ted Budd of North Carolina, Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, Mike Crapo of Idaho, John Barrasso, of Wyoming, Todd Young of Indiana, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Katie Britt of Alabama, John Curtis of Utah, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and John Cornyn of Texas.
