Yazidis

Major U.S. and British Government-sponsored Summits Defend Global Religious Freedom

Two recently held major international conferences brought together thousands of religious freedom advocates and government officials to cooperate in taking concrete action to end religious persecution.  

The Natural Next Step: Afghanistan Withdrawal in Context
The Natural Next Step: Afghanistan Withdrawal in Context

One adjective that should never be used to describe the US retreat from Afghanistan is “surprising.” In fact, what happened in Kabul in 2021 was the natural next step on the inward-turning path Americans began walking in 2009.

The Biden Administration Can Capitalize on the International Religious Freedom Summit
The Biden Administration Can Capitalize on the International Religious Freedom Summit

In today’s hyperpolarized environment, Beltway commentators and even think-tank scholars seem unable to resist the temptation to put a partisan twist on the most nonpartisan of causes. While some voices have attempted to politicize the issue of international religious freedom (IRF), the cause itself continues to attract wide bipartisan support.

Government Report Signals Hope for Middle Eastern Christians - USCIRF
Government Report Signals Hope for Middle Eastern Christians

While these reports are never perfect, their existence reflects how the US government is uniquely positioned to serve as a global leader in the promotion of human rights. USCIRF’s commissioners and staff deserve commendation for producing them.

Pope’s Visit Offers an Opportunity for Christians in Iraq
Pope Francis’ Visit Offers an Opportunity for Christians in Iraq

Hopefully, Pope Francis’ trip to visit the Christians in Iraq will not only lift their spirits but also inspire change so that they can stay and prosper in their ancient homeland, which would benefit all of Iraq.

To Protect Syria’s Christians, Erdogan Must be Stopped
To Protect Syria’s Christians, Erdogan Must be Stopped

Extremists are slowly extinguishing of some of the world’s oldest Christian communities, while the world remains largely silent.

Iraq Must Dismantle the Popular Mobilization Forces

Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq now pose a threat greater than the services they once provided.

The Bold and the Free: Waging Media War in Arabic - Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) - Al-Hurra
The Bold and the Free: Waging Media War in Arabic

Given the alarming trends in the Middle East, America should fashion agile media platforms that influence audiences in the region and—even more importantly—say something compelling.

The First Thing that Must Change for Iraq to Move Forward
The First Thing that Must Change for Iraq to Move Forward

The United States and the international community could make a difference in the future of Iraq by informing the incoming government that there will be no investment or access to capital markets until these militias, and Iranian influence, have been eliminated.