- We’ll not sit back and watch individuals tortured for their faith
- An attack on religious freedom anywhere is an affront to religious freedom everywhere
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Sunday, October 27, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – The United States of America today sent a very strong message to countries who have placed severe restrictions on religious freedom, making very clear it remains committed to freedom of religion and that it will stand with those seeking to live by the dictates of their faith.
Secretary of States, Mike Pompeo made the remarks on the occasion to mark international religious freedom. According to him, more than 80 percent of the world population live in countries with high or severe restrictions on religious freedom and that the United States will not sit back and watch individuals tortured on the basis of their faith.
A government can never reach its full potential if individuals within its borders are marginalized or oppressed. Only by fully embracing and protecting religious freedom can countries achieve their economic aspirations, ensure security, and eradicate terrorism
Jehovah’s Witnesses top the list of religious groups whose members are tortured among these 80 countries for choosing to live by the dictates of their religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses, the most peaceful religious group are arrested and tortured daily by the Russian state for choosing to live by the dictates of their religion. They are tortured in Azerbaijan, and in Kazahkstan. They are tortured in South Korea in Tajiskistan , in Armenia, in Eritea, and other places.
Pompeo showed that the United States is aware of all these illegalities against the Witnesses and other religious organisations when he said, that in far too many places, governments and non-state actors prevent individuals from organizing their lives in accord with their conscience.
“However, we will not sit back as individuals are killed, jailed, harassed, or tortured for their faith. We will stand with and for all those seeking to live out the dictates of their faiths”, he said, adding “an attack on religious freedom anywhere is an affront to religious freedom everywhere’, he said.
The United States made the statement to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRF Act), landmark legislation that – for the first time – made promoting and defending international religious freedom a specific focus of U.S. foreign policy.
“A government can never reach its full potential if individuals within its borders are marginalized or oppressed. Only by fully embracing and protecting religious freedom can countries achieve their economic aspirations, ensure security, and eradicate terrorism.
“Today, we reaffirm that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his or her religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”, he said.
