International (MNN) — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, will release its annual report tomorrow. The report outlines religious freedom violations abroad and offers foreign policy recommendations to the State Department.
However, the State Department has done nothing with USCIRF recommendations during Trump’s second term. The most recent International Religious Freedom report reviewed conditions in 2023.
The department’s lackluster response is surprising, given Trump’s ongoing appeal to evangelical Christians.
“We were really looking forward to something a little stronger to address some of the issues in countries where we are seeing specific persecution, oppression of Christians,” John Pudaite of Bibles For The World says.
“Countries that we’re watching closely are India, Southeast Asian nations, as well as Africa.”
Spotlight: India
The absence of a current IRF report is important because religious freedom violations could factor into US foreign policy decisions, such as sanctions. For example, India has gotten a free pass diplomatically, despite known persecution.
State anti-conversion laws have long been used against pastors, church planters, and evangelists. Despite greater government restrictions on Christianity, churches are growing.
(Photo, caption courtesy of VOM USA)
“In India, we have seen violence against Christians as well as other minorities increase continuously over the last couple of years,” Pudaite says.
“It’s a tough situation. Those who are persecuting them know that nothing will happen; they have complete impunity.”
Hindu mobs recently attacked Christian home fellowships, while others tried to make the meetings illegal. “They’re trying to attack the house churches and small groups that are meeting in homes,” Pudaite explains.
“There was an act by a couple of states to try to [outlaw] prayer in the home. This case, in the court, was defeated. So, there was small victory there.”
Prayer needs
India’s state-level anti-conversion laws remain problematic for believers. Please pray for perseverance.
“We have anti-conversion laws in 12 states. Many have been arrested under those laws; [it is] an inconvenience, at the very minimum,” Pudaite says.
“They get arrested. They have to go to court. It’s all part of the enemy’s tactics to try to discourage [believers].”
Pray that U.S. officials will prioritize religious freedom as they make policy decisions.
“There’s been a (USCIRF) recommendation that has gone forward, and we are really looking forward to [seeing] whether the US Department of State will follow through and act on that,” Pudaite says.
Header image depicts a Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally. Photo courtesy American Life League via Flickr.
