By John Eibner, CSI President
October 27 commemorates the signing by United States President Bill Clinton of the landmark International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
This legislation, passed with broad bi-partisan support, provides the U.S. government with powerful discretionary tools for the defence and promotion of a fundamental human right – one that is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Christian Solidarity International (CSI) commends the legislators, especially Representatives Frank Wolf and Chris Smith, who drafted the Act and drove it through Congress.
Religious freedom in retreat
But CSI cannot ignore the grim reality that religious freedom and associated human rights are in retreat globally. Violent, often deadly, religious persecution is on the rise, as is non-violent religious discrimination.
Since this bill became law, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been forced by violent jihad to flee their Middle Eastern homelands, especially Iraq and Syria. Other religious minority communities in the region face existential threats.
CSI encourages all who stand for religious freedom to press the United States and partners belonging to the International Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief to redouble efforts to promote this fundamental human right vigorously and non-selectively as a centerpiece of foreign policy.
