It has been one year since Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, published the first-ever UN human rights report solely dedicated to examining the threat to human rights posed by antisemitism and identifying necessary actions
to combat it. Dr. Shaheed’s report, which he developed after studying the issue and meeting with representatives of Jewish communities and organizations around the world, including in several consultations convened by AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute, was warmly welcomed not only by Jewish audiences but also by many governments at the UN General Assembly.
Legislation Factsheet: Attacks on Houses of Worship and Religious Leaders in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso was long viewed as a bastion of religious tolerance and interfaith
harmony in west Africa. However, in recent years, religious freedom conditions in
Burkina Faso have deteriorated, with the country facing interrelated security and
humanitarian crises. Attacks on both Muslim and Christian houses of worship and
religious leaders have spiked as jihadist and other militia groups expand their area
of influence throughout the country. The government is struggling to rein in the
violence, and poor performance and misconduct by government affiliated forces are
exacerbating the situation
The Untold Story of Syrian Kurdish Christians
We have reported at USCIRF about atrocities against Christians, Yazidis, other religious minorities in the areas Turkey invaded in Northeast Syria, but recently learned they are specifically targeting Kurdish Christian converts with apostasy charges. This article tells their story. Assyrians have an ancient history in the region and play a crucial role in the Christian community in Northeast Syria, along with Syriac, Armenian, and Chaldean Christians. The international community must preserve this refuge that includes some of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
At G20 Interfaith Forum, Elder Bednar Reflects on the Role of Religion in the COVID-19 Crisis
14 October 2020 – Salt Lake City News ReleaseAt G20 Interfaith Forum, Elder Bednar Reflects on the Role of Religion in the COVID-19 CrisisApostle speaks of the powerful possibilities of partnership between secular and sacred institutions during the virtual gathering, hosted by Saudi Arabia
