Today marks the 27th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Act. The United States government has used this occasion to restate its dedication to defending religious freedom globally.
According to the statement, "Hundreds of millions of people of faith around the world face threats of violence, imprisonment, and death for simply living out their faith. Religious persecution destabilizes countries, undermines hope for peace, and attacks a core truth recognized by our Founding Fathers: that faith is essential to human flourishing and a free society. America’s foreign policy unapologetically promotes religious freedom as a universal human right and a fundamental freedom, a right given to us by our Creator."
The statement also emphasized America's role in advocating for this issue internationally: "There is no greater friend to religious freedom than the United States, and we will continue to lead with strength to protect religious liberty around the world."
The IRF Act was enacted in 1998. Since then, it has shaped U.S. foreign policy on promoting religious liberty abroad.
