Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on Christian persecution at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy. Prior to joining FDD, he interned at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), an Israeli cybersecurity startup, and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in history and political science, where he founded the Tufts Tribune, a campus newspaper focused on free speech and politically balanced reporting.
With the growth of Christianity in China, the CCP no longer seeks to suppress religion but instead co-opt it to support Xi Jinping’s authoritarian agenda
Samuel Ben-UrMay 11, 2026
As in the Cold War with the Soviet Union and in 2014 with Cuba, Washington and the Vatican can play complementary diplomatic roles vis-à-vis China to relieve the persecution faced by Chinese Catholics.
Samuel Ben-UrApril 27, 2026
The inextricable links between Christianity and the rise of liberal democracy are undeniable—therefore, as the United States seeks to promote Western values abroad, it must defend Christians.
Samuel Ben-UrApril 13, 2026
The image of Russia as a bastion of conservative Christianity against a decadent West exists purely to legitimize Putin’s repression of any Christian communities beyond his control
Ivana Stradner & Samuel Ben-UrFebruary 18, 2026
