The International Religious Freedom Summit (IRF) officially begins Tuesday in Washington, DC The event will feature a variety of discussions to increase public awareness and political strength of the international religious freedom movement.
The summit kicked off its pre-event activities with Congressional Advocacy Day to bring together lawmakers, ambassadors and survivors of persecution on Monday.
Advocates held more than 200 meetings on Capitol Hill with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who represented a variety of faith communities.
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, center, meets with IRF advocates. (IRF Summit)
“We were taking advantage of the best that America has to offer… undeniable religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. We’ve seen the US in a bipartisan way,” Congressional Advocacy Day co-chair Amjad Khan told Fox Digital. .
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Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, says he was proud that Congress last year reauthorized the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to continue shining a light on persecution around the world.
The commission was created in 1998 under the International Religious Freedom Act to independently assess and confront threats to religious freedom.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., meets with IRF supporters. (IRF Summit)
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee is honorary co-chair of the House Congress for the summit, telling Fox News Digital: “Pope Francis said it best when he said: ‘Religious freedom is a fundamental human right.’ Unfortunately, the Religious freedoms are increasingly under attack around the world.
According to a Pew Research Center report, Christianity, followed by Islam and Judaism, are the three most restricted (persecuted) religions.
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Khan says Congress can do more for religious freedoms by highlighting prisoners of conscience.
Congressional Advocacy Day Co-Chair Amjad Khan speaks at the Capitol Hill Visitors Center ahead of the International Religious Freedom Summit. (IRF Summit)
“I don’t think the House has adopted any prisoners of conscience [legislation] still in the new session. That is not right. We have so many prisoners of conscience who are suffering right now in jail just for believing in their faith. People need to know their stories, share their stories, because that’s how we can be their advocates,” he added.
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More than 1,000 religious freedom advocates are expected to gather in Washington, DC, Tuesday for the kickoff of the International Religious Freedom Summit.
