Podcasts about uscirf

At the end of 2024, over thirteen years since the onset of Syria's protracted civil war, the country's political landscape dramatically shifted when a rebel coalition toppled the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Religious freedom conditions had suffered over the course of the civil war under a variety of state and nonstate actors. Now, in the months since the fall of the Assad regime, freedom of religion or belief faces ongoing nationwide challenges as Damascus continues its political transition under members of U.S.-designated terrorist organization HTS, itself a violator of religious freedom. Meanwhile, Turkey's military strikes and support for Islamist militias pose additional threats to diverse religious communities in the north and east. In its 2025 Annual Report USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State add Syria to the Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom. On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, Former USCIRF Chair and current President of the IRF Secretariat Nadine Maenza will join USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson to discuss findings from Ms. Maenza's recent travel to Syria, including Damascus, where several religious communities face ongoing threats to religious freedom as Syria continues its transition.  Read USCIRF's 2025 Annual Report chapter on Syria and 2022 factsheet on Religious Freedom in Syria Under Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and listen to USCIRF's 2022 Spotlight episode on HTS's religious freedom violations. With Contributions from:Veronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Specialist, USCIRF

The religious freedom situation in Azerbaijan remains highly restricted. The government subjects virtually all religious practices to intrusive state oversight. Shi'a Muslims who do not operate within the government's preferred boundaries have faced imprisonment on dubious charges. Armenian religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions remain threatened since Azerbaijan regained control. In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State maintain Azerbaijan on the Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom. On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck, Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi, and Commissioner Vicky Hartzler join Director of Research and Policy Guillermo Cantor to discuss their recent travels to Azerbaijan.Read USCIRF's 2025 Annual Report Chapter on Azerbaijan and USCIRF's most recent Azerbaijan Country Update.With Contributions from:Guillermo Cantor, Director of Research & Policy, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Specialist, USCIRF

In recent years, USCIRF has reported declining religious freedom conditions in India, as the government continues to enforce and strengthen legislation that disproportionately impacts religious minorities, including anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws. These laws often target Muslim and Christian communities. In its 2025 annual report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern. On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck joins Senior Policy Analyst Sema Hasan to discuss the decline of religious freedom in India with particular focus on legislation. Read USCIRF's 2025 Annual Report Chapter on India and USCIRF's most recent India Country Update.With Contributions from:Sema Hasan, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Specialist, USCIRF

Today's HeadlinesNew radio program to bring hope and help to Myanmar earthquake survivorsNominated ambassador could work closely with USCIRF to advance religious freedom globallyThe long-term effects of child discipleship

Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFzTop headlines for Monday, March 31, 2025In this episode, we discuss warnings from a leading religious freedom advisory panel about potential negative impacts of policy changes under the Trump administration on religious rights worldwide. Next, we delve into a recent report on the Netherlands, where nearly 10,000 people chose euthanasia last year, marking a notable 10% increase from the previous year. Plus, we turn our attention to the Gaza Strip, where protests have erupted in response to Hamas rule, signaling growing discontent in the region. 00:11 Trump policy shifts will impact religious freedom: USCIRF chair01:10 Texas mosque ordered to halt alleged illegal funeral services02:17 Woman sues abortionist over perforated uterus, skull fragments03:11 Sponsor Message WatersEdge04:10 Nearly 10K in Netherlands euthanized amid 10% increase in 202405:11 Rare protests against Hamas break out in Gaza06:03 Planned Parenthood executive salaries continue to increase07:04 TD Jakes reveals he suffered heart attack: 'Such a privilege'#ReligiousFreedom #USCIRF #TrumpPolicy #ProLife #AbortionDebate #Euthanasia #GazaProtests #HamasProtest #PlannedParenthood #NonprofitTransparency #TDJakes #ChristianLeadersSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsTrump policy shifts will impact religious freedom: USCIRF chair | PoliticsTexas mosque ordered to halt alleged illegal funeral services | U.S.Woman sues abortionist over perforated uterus, skull fragments | U.S.Nearly 10K in Netherlands euthanized amid 10% increase in 2024 | WorldRare protests against Hamas break out in Gaza | WorldPlanned Parenthood executive salaries continue to increase | PoliticsTD Jakes reveals he suffered heart attack: 'Such a privilege' | Church & Ministries

With the release of the 2025 USCIRF report, Maureen Ferguson joins to discuss the religious freedom abuses against Catholics in Nicaragua.

With the release of the 2025 USCIRF report, Maureen Ferguson joins to discuss the religious freedom abuses against Catholics in Nicaragua.

Attending a thought-provoking conference on feminine genius and women in the church, the TCA team descends upon the campus of Notre Dame discussing the teachings of John Paul II, what Catholic feminism truly is, and the real role of women within the church and family. With the release of USCIRF's report on religious freedom, Maureen Ferguson joins to highlight some of the worst areas of persecution across the globe including Nicaragua and Nigeria. Msgr. Roger Landry also offers guidance as we continue our Lenten journey, urging all of us to make time for the sacrament of reconciliation. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio!

Today's HeadlinesUSCIRF flags four nations for ‘Countries of Particular Concern' listIran navigating sanctions and geopolitical shiftsMENA ministries chart digital course with Gospel compass

Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) vừa bày tỏ quan ngại trước sự gia tăng đàn áp của chính quyền Việt Nam đối với các nhóm tôn giáo độc lập và đề nghị Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ đưa Việt Nam vào danh sách cần quan tâm đặc biệt (CPC). Xem thêm: https://bit.ly/voatvfb6 Tin tức đáng chú ý khác: Dự án 88: Năm đảng viên cấp tin cho Đường Văn Thái bị kết án. Mô tô, xe gắn máy tại Việt Nam chưa phải kiểm định khí thải ngay từ 1/1/2025. Trung Quốc tuyên bố Đài Loan là ‘lằn ranh đỏ' trong quan hệ Mỹ-Trung. Mỹ: Quân đội Triều Tiên bị thương vong trong cuộc chiến Ukraine. Tướng Nga bị ám sát; Nga tăng cường tấn công Ukraine ở Kursk và Donetsk. Các nước NATO cam kết hành động chống lại ‘Hạm đội bóng tối' của Nga. Mỹ: Một bệnh nhân được ghép thận lợn sau 8 năm chạy thận nhân tạo.

Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) vừa bày tỏ quan ngại trước sự gia tăng đàn áp của chính quyền Việt Nam đối với các nhóm tôn giáo độc lập và đề nghị Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ đưa Việt Nam vào danh sách cần quan tâm đặc biệt (CPC). Xem thêm: https://bit.ly/voatvfb6 Tin tức đáng chú ý khác: Dự án 88: Năm đảng viên cấp tin cho Đường Văn Thái bị kết án. Mô tô, xe gắn máy tại Việt Nam chưa phải kiểm định khí thải ngay từ 1/1/2025. Trung Quốc tuyên bố Đài Loan là ‘lằn ranh đỏ' trong quan hệ Mỹ-Trung. Mỹ: Quân đội Triều Tiên bị thương vong trong cuộc chiến Ukraine. Tướng Nga bị ám sát; Nga tăng cường tấn công Ukraine ở Kursk và Donetsk. Các nước NATO cam kết hành động chống lại ‘Hạm đội bóng tối' của Nga. Mỹ: Một bệnh nhân được ghép thận lợn sau 8 năm chạy thận nhân tạo.

Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) vừa bày tỏ quan ngại trước sự gia tăng đàn áp của chính quyền Việt Nam đối với các nhóm tôn giáo độc lập và đề nghị Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ đưa Việt Nam vào danh sách cần quan tâm đặc biệt (CPC).

On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck joins Senior Strategic Advisor Elizabeth Cassidy to reflect on his trip to the United Kingdom. Marked by a special relationship, the United States, and the United Kingdom, aim to place a special focus on international religious freedom. Chair Schneck discusses USCIRF's key engagements held with government and civil society actors and highlights the UK's leadership role in the space.  Read USCIRF's 2024 Annual ReportWith Contributions from:Elizabeth Cassidy, Senior Strategic Advisor, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Here's an AI-generated podcast based on this essay (courtesy Google's NotebookLM): always entertaining and appealing. Full disclosure: Parts of this essay were also written by AI, and edited.The entire sorry spat with the Canadians, the tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and a virtual breakdown of ties leads to a good question. Are the Americans behind it (and if so why?), because for all practical purposes, Canada takes the lead from its Five Eyes friends and mentors? Several commentators have suggested that this is so. Trudeau is not a serious politician, as he demonstrated in this photograph in blackface acting allegedly as an “Indian potentate”.But the Deep State is deadly serious. They have meddled in country after country, leading to the utter misery of their populations. I can, off the top of my head, count several: Salvador Allende's Chile, Patrice Lumumba's Congo, Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Muammar Ghaddafi's Libya, Bashar Assad's Syria, not to mention Sihanouk's Cambodia. We have to make a distinction between the US public in general and the Deep State. The nation as a whole still believes in the noble ideals of the American Revolution, and American individuals are among the most engaging in the world; however, the Deep State is self-aggrandizing, and now poses a potent danger to the US itself as well as others. Alas, it is taking its eye off its real foe, China, with what probably will be disastrous consequences.  The Khalistani threat is a significant concern for India because it appears that the Deep State is applying pressure through proxies. Since it likes to stick to simple playbooks, we have some recent and nerve-racking precedents: Ukraine https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/trudeau-is-us-deep-states-zelensky-2-0-why-india-should-fight-canadas-diplomatic-war-with-all-its-might-13827294.html) and Bangladesh https://rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/p/ep-134-the-geo-political-fallout.So what exactly is in store for India after the new POTUS is chosen, which is just two weeks away? US betting markets are suggesting that Donald Trump will win, but it's likely that Kamala Harris will emerge as POTUS. I was among the few in India who predicted a Trump win in 2016; admittedly I predicted a Trump win in 2020, and I do believe there were um… irregularities. I think in 2024 Trump would win if it were a fair fight, but it is not.But I fear the vote will be rigged and lopsided, partly because of the vast numbers of illegal aliens who will be, or already have been, allowed to vote (by mail). Every day, I hear of strange practices in swing states, as in this tweet. There is room for a lot of irregularities.On the other hand, the Indian-American voter (“desi”), apparently, will continue to vote for the Democratic Party, with some reason: there is racism in the Republican rank and file; but then let us remember that anti-black racism in the US South had Democratic roots: George Wallace and Bull Connor and “Jim Crow”. The Republicans had their “Southern Strategy” too, to inflame racial tensions. The racism Indian-Americans, particularly Hindus, face today is more subtle, but I doubt that the indentured labor and Green Card hell will get any better with Kamala Harris as President. I suspect 100+ year waits for a Green Card will continue. A Harris presidency could introduce several challenges for India across various domains, including economics, foreign policy, terrorism, and military affairs. It is appropriate to consider historical contexts, especially the stances of previous Democratic administrations and notable figures. In particular, Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Robin Raphel come to mind: they were especially offensive to India and India's interests. The Biden Amendment, and Bill Clinton/Hillary Clinton's efforts delayed India's cryogenic rocket engine and thus its space program by 19 years. https://www.rediff.com/news/column/who-killed-the-isros-cryogenic-engine/20131118.htmOne of the most vivid historical examples is that of Japan's economy. After a dream run in the 1960s and 1970s, when they seriously threatened American supremacy in trade based on their high-quality and low-priced products, the Japanese were felled by the Plaza Accord of 1985, which forced the yen to appreciate significantly against the dollar.The net result was that Japanese products lost their competitive pricing edge. Furthermore, it led to an interest rate cut by the Japanese central bank, which created an enormous asset bubble. The bursting of that bubble led to a Lost Decade in the 1990s, and the nation has not yet recovered from that shock. One could say that the reserve currency status of the dollar was used to bludgeon the Japanese economy to death.Having observed this closely, China took special care to do two things: one, to infiltrate the US establishment, and two, to lull them into a false sense of security. Captains of industry were perfectly happy, with their short-term personal incentives, to move production to China for increased profits. Wall Street was quite willing to finance China, too. Politicians were willing to suspend disbelief, and to pursue the fantasy that a prosperous China would be somehow like America, only with East Asian features. Wrong. China is a threat now. But the Deep State learned from that mistake: they will not let another competitor thrive. The possible economic rise of India is something that will be opposed tooth and nail. In the background there is the possible collapse of the US dollar as the reserve currency (i.e. dedollarization), because of ballooning US debt and falling competitiveness, and the emergence of mechanisms other than Bretton Woods and the SWIFT network (e.g. the proposed blockchain-based, decentralized BRICS currency called UNIT).Besides, the Deep State has a clear goal for India: be a supine supplier of raw materials, including people; and a market for American goods, in particular weapons. Ideally India will be ruled by the Congress party, which, through incompetence or intent, steadily impoverished India: see how nominal per capita income collapsed under that regime until the reforms of 1991 (data from tradingeconomics and macrotrends). The massive devaluations along the way also hurt the GDP statistics, with only modest gains in trade. Another future that the Deep State has in mind for India could well be balkanization: just like the Soviet Union was unraveled, it may assiduously pursue the unwinding of the Indian State through secession, “sub-national diplomacy” and so forth. The value of India as a hedge against a rampaging China does not seem to occur to Democrats; in this context Trump in his presidency was much more positive towards India.Chances are that a Harris presidency will cost India dear,  in all sorts of ways:Foreign Policy Challenges1. Kashmir, Khalistan and Regional Dynamics: Harris has previously expressed support for Kashmiri separatism and criticized India's actions in the region. This stance could complicate U.S.-India relations, especially if she seeks to engage with groups advocating Kashmiri secession. The persistent support for Khalistan, including its poster boy Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who keeps warning of blowing up Indian planes, shows the Democrats have invested in this policy.2. Alignment with Anti-India Elements: Her connections with leftist factions within the Democratic Party, which have historically taken a hard stance against India, may result in policies that are less favorable to Indian interests. The influence of figures like Pramila Jayapal could further strain relations.3. Balancing Act with China: While the U.S. aims to counter Chinese influence in Asia, Harris's approach may involve a nuanced engagement with China that could leave India feeling sidelined in strategic discussions. Barack Obama, if you remember, unilaterally ceded to China the task of overseeing the so-called “South Asia”. Harris may well be content with a condominium arrangement with China: see https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-a-us-china-condominium-dividing-up-the-world-between-themselves-12464262.html 4. Foreign Policy Independence: An India that acts in its own national interests is anathema to many in the US establishment. The clear Indian message that the Ukraine war and perhaps even the Gaza war are unfortunate events, but that they are peripheral to Indian interests, did not sit well with the Biden administration. In a sense, just as Biden pushed Russia into China's arms, he may well be doing the same with India: the recently announced patrolling agreement between India and China may also be a signal to the Harris camp.Terrorism and Security Concerns1. Counterterrorism Cooperation: A shift towards prioritizing “human rights” may affect U.S.-India counterterrorism cooperation, as can already be seen in the case of Khalistanis. If Harris's administration emphasizes civil liberties over security measures, it could limit joint operations aimed at combating terrorism emanating especially from Pakistan..2. Support for Separatist Movements and Secession: Increased U.S. support for groups that advocate for self-determination in regions like Kashmir might embolden separatist movements within India (see Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, and the alleged Christian Zo nation that Sheikh Hasina said the US wanted to carve out of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar), posing a significant internal security challenge.Military Affairs1. Defense Collaborations: Although military ties have strengthened under previous administrations, a Harris presidency might introduce hesitancy in defense collaborations due to her potential focus on alleged human rights issues within India's military operations. This is a double-edged sword because it could also induce more self-reliance, as well as defense exports, by India. 2. Historical Precedents: The historical context of U.S. military interventions in South Asia, such as the deployment of the Seventh Fleet during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, raises concerns about how a Harris administration might respond to regional conflicts involving India. 3. Strategic Partnerships: Any perceived shift in U.S. commitment to India as a strategic partner could embolden adversarial nations like China and Pakistan, thereby destabilizing the region further. This, at a time when China is vastly outspending all its neighbors in Asia in its military budget (data from CSIS).Economic Implications1. Increased Scrutiny on “Human Rights”: Harris's administration may adopt a more critical stance towards India's human rights record, particularly concerning alleged violations of minority rights and alleged mistreatment of dissent, although there is reason to believe this is mostly a convenient stick to beat India with rather than a real concern: we see how the real human rights violations of Hindus in Bangladesh raise no alarms. This scrutiny could have economic repercussions, such as reduced foreign investment from companies concerned about reputational risks associated with human rights violations, and possible sanctions based on the likes of the USCIRF's (US Council on International Religious Freedom) report.2. Shift in Trade Policies: Historical Democratic administrations have often prioritized labor rights and environmental standards in trade agreements. If Harris follows this trend, India might face stricter trade conditions that could hinder its export-driven sectors.3. Focus on Domestic Issues: Harris's potential prioritization of domestic issues over international relations may lead to a diminished focus on strengthening economic ties with India, which could stall ongoing initiatives aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.Social Issues1.  Anti-Hindu feeling: There has been a demonstrable increase in antipathy shown towards Hindus in the US, with a number of incidents of desecration of Hindu temples, especially by Khalistanis, as well as economic crimes such as robberies of jewelry shops. The temperature online as well as in legacy media has also risen, with offensive memes being bandied about. A notable example was the New York Times' cartoon when India did its Mars landing. And you don't get more Democrat-leaning than the New York Times.In summary, while Kamala Harris's presidency may not drastically alter the trajectory of U.S.-India relations established under previous administrations, given a convergence of major geo-political interests, it could introduce significant challenges stemming from her focus on so-called “human rights” and alignment with anti-India factions within her party. These factors could negatively influence economic ties, foreign policy dynamics, counterterrorism efforts, and military collaborations between the two nations. Four more years of tension: revival of terrorist attacks in Kashmir, the chances of CAA-like riots regarding the Waqf issue, economic warfare, a slow genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh. It's enough to make one nostalgic for the Trump era: yes, he talked about tariffs and Harley-Davidson, but he didn't go to war, and he identified China as enemy number one. 2000 words, 23 October 2024 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Modi's Triple Action - Temple Move, Dravidian Counter, USCIRF Told to Get Lost | Bharat Asserts

The Dr B S Harishankar Memorial Lecture, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, Trivandrum, 27th August 2024.A Malayalam version of this has been published by Janmabhumi newspaper at https://janmabhumi.in/2024/09/01/3258051/varadyam/geo-political-implications-for-bangladesh/It was startling to hear from retired Ambassador G Sankar Iyer on Asianet's program with Ambassador TP Sreenivasan that the celebrated Malayalam author Vaikom Mohammed Basheer (once nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature) said in 1973: “In Bangladesh, we have created yet another enemy.” With his novelist's insight, Basheer understood that the Two-Nation Theory held sway among certain sections of Bengalis.In the current crisis situation in 2024, the ongoing pogrom against Hindus (amounting to a virtual genocide) and the forced resignation of teachers, police officers and other officials based only on the fact that they are Hindus (there are videos that show them being beaten and humiliated even after resigning) suggests that anti-Hindu feeling is running rampant in Bangladesh. It is another kristallnacht.This is coupled with anti-India feeling. For instance, the current floods in Bangladesh are being blamed on India opening a dam in Tripura after torrential rains, although the Indian government has said that it provided all the hydrological data that it always has. The fact of the matter is that the departure of Sheikh Hasina is a blow to India's geo-political ambitions. It now appears as though India erred in “putting all its eggs into one basket” by cultivating only her Awami League, and not the Bangladesh National Party of her arch-rival Khaleda Zia. The indubitable fact that Indian influence in Bangladesh has now been supplanted by forces inimical to India raises the question of who might be behind the regime change operation. Beyond that, there is the question of whether it was indeed a popular uprising based on the suppressed ambitions of the people that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.The third question is what this means for Bangladesh, India and the region going forward, especially as climate change may alter the very geography of the area. It is predicted that as much as 11% of the land area of Bangladesh could be underwater by 2050. This could displace 18 million people, which would lead to unprecedented migration of their population into India. Regime Change operation: Who benefits from it?Cui bono? Who benefits? That Latin phrase is used to consider who might be motivated to commit a crime (the other part is who has the means to commit it). In this case of regime change in Bangladesh, there are several entities who might benefit. Obviously Pakistan. That country has never lived down its balkanization in 1971, and it had a number of its sympathizers already in place at that time. There were many who collaborated with the Pakistani Army in identifying Hindus and facilitating their killing or rape or ethnic cleansing, and also Muslims who were their political opponents. These are the people Sheikh Hasina referred to as “razakars”, and they are essentially in control now. China is a clear winner whenever something happens that hurts India's interests. There is the perennial issue of the Chicken's Neck, that narrow strip of land that connects the Seven Sister states of India's Northeast to the Gangetic Plain. It is a permanent threat to India that somebody (most probably China) will cut this off and truncate India, with the Northeast then becoming part of a Greater Bangladesh, with associated genocide of Hindus and Buddhists. Former Ambassador Veena Sikri spoke to Ambassador TP Sreenivasan about something very odd indeed: Sheikh Hasina made a state visit to China in mid July, and she was thoroughly humiliated there. Xi Jingping refused to meet her; and she cut her visit short by one day and returned to Dhaka. This is an unheard-of protocol violation for a State Visit; what it suggests is that China had decided that Sheikh Hasina was on the way out. This is in sharp contrast to a Xi visit in 2016 when he made grand promises about Belt and Road Initiative investments. The United States also has interests. Sheikh Hasina had alleged two things: * An unnamed Western power wants St Martin's Island (aka Coconut Island) off Cox's Bazaar as a military base to keep an eye on both China and India, * An unnamed Western power intends to form a new Christian Zo nation (for Mizo, Kuki, Chin) just like Christian homelands were carved out in East Timor and South Sudan.The implication was that the unspecified Western power was the US. It is not entirely clear that the US benefits greatly from a military base in the Bay of Bengal but there has been a long-running Great Game initiated by the British to keep India down as a supplier of raw materials and a market for their products. The US may have inherited this mantle.Intriguingly, the US Deep State and its proxies in the Western media had built a narrative around Sheikh Hasina as a model leader for developing Asia, a woman who also succeeded in improving the economic status of her country. That Bangladesh's per capita GDP had overtaken India's, and that its garment industry was doing well were used to mock India's own economic achievements. The switch to Hasina being a ‘dictator' was a sudden change in narrative.There is, therefore, enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that there was a foreign hand in the happenings in Bangladesh, although we will have to wait for conclusive evidence. Was this indeed a regime-change coup or a true popular uprising?It is true that Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina's fifteen-year rule was not a perfect democracy. But there are mitigating factors, including a violent streak that led to the assassination of her father and independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman just four years after the bloody birth of the new State after the Pakistan Army's assault on its Bengali citizens. The toppling and desecration of his statue shows that his national hero status may not be accepted by the entire population: in fact it looks like friends of Pakistan wish to erase his entire legacy. The history of democracy in independent Bangladesh is checkered and marred by violence. Before he was deposed and killed in 1975, Mujibur Rehman himself had banned all opposition parties. After Mujib, there was outright military rule till 1986, when the erstwhile Chief Martial Law Administrator Hussain Mohammed Ershad became the elected President. When Ershad was deposed after (student-led) agitations in 1991, Khaleda Zia (BNP or Bangladesh National Party) became the PM and after that she and her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina (Awami League) alternated in power. The BNP boycotted the 2018 elections partly because Khaleda Zia was jailed on allegations of corruption. In all of these twists and turns, ‘students' were involved. In 1971, when Yahya Khan launched Operation Searchlight, the Pakistani army went straight for students and professors in Dhaka University, especially if they were Hindus. Later too, ‘student' protests were instrumental in the overthrow of Ershad. The proximate cause of the troubles in 2024 was also a ‘student' uprising. There had been a 30% quota in government jobs for the children of freedom fighters; along with other such set-asides e.g. for minorities and women, a total of 56% of government jobs were ‘reserved' by 2018. This reservation system was largely abolished by Sheikh Hasina's government in 2018 after yet another student agitation. In June 2024, a High Court in Bangladesh overturned the 2018 judgment as unconstitutional. Even though the Supreme Court reversed it, and restored the status quo ante (of drastically reduced reservations to 7% in total), the peaceful ‘student' agitation suddenly morphed into a violent confrontation led by members of the Jamaat e Islami (an Islamist party) and the BNP. There was police firing. The Daily Star, a respected daily, found out that 204 people were killed in the first few days, out of which only 53 were students. It appears the supposed ‘student revolution' was taken over by professional agitators and agents provocateurs, and it rapidly led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, with escalating violence, especially against Hindus, and the Army getting involved. Even though the Army is in charge now, there is a smokescreen of an ‘interim government' that allows entities like the UN an excuse to not impose sanctions on Bangladesh. It is hard to take it on face value that this was a popular uprising; circumstantial evidence suggests that there was a clear agenda for regime change, and since it suits both China and the US to keep India constrained, either of them could have been behind it. The diplomatic snub to Hasina in July suggests the Chinese were well aware of the coming coup. On the other hand, the sudden U-turn in the narrative about Hasina in the Western media suggests that the US might have decided to dump her. The process by which the regime change happened is also similar to what happened in other countries that experienced ‘color revolutions'. The actions of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and of some diplomats in supporting the BNP, have been offered as possible evidence of US bad faith.What is obvious is the role of the fundamentalist group, the Jamaat e Islami, which has strong connections with Pakistan. It seems likely that they were the enforcers, and had invested assets within the armed forces. They have called for the secular Bangladesh constitution to be replaced by Islamic Sharia law, and for non-Muslims to be treated as second-class citizens. The Yunus government has just unbanned the Jamaat e Islami.The attacks on Hindus, including large numbers of lynchings, rapes, and abductions of women, suggests that there is a religious angle and the Jamaat e Islami's prejudices are coming to the fore. Notably, the entire Western media, Amnesty International, the United Nations, and the USCIRF, human rights specialists all, had nothing at all to say about the horrific oppression of Hindus. The New York Times even had a headline about “revenge killings” of Hindus, as though somehow the 8% minority Hindus had been responsible for whatever Sheikh Hasina was accused of. Upon being called out, the NYT changed the headline to just  “killings” of Hindus with no explanation or apology.The role of Professor Mohammed Yunus is also intriguing: he had been invited to head an interim government in 2007 but abandoned the attempt and in fact left politics. He had been close to Sheikh Hasina at one point, for instance he got the licenses for his Grameen Phone during her rule, but they later fell out. Yunus' Nobel Peace Prize and his earlier stint in the US have raised questions about whether he is in fact managed by US interests.Given all this, it is much more likely that it was a coup than a popular agitation. It remains to be seen who was behind the coup. What next for India and the region?There are several long-term challenges for India. None of this is positive for India, which is already facing problems on its periphery (eg. Maldives and Nepal). The coup in Bangladesh also makes the BIMSTEC alliance as unviable as SAARC.1. Deteriorating India-Bangladesh RelationsThe overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, seen as a close ally of India, has led to a rise in anti-Indian sentiment in Bangladesh. The new government may not be as friendly towards India, especially on sensitive issues like trade and security. This could jeopardize the gains in bilateral ties over the past decade. The presence of hardliners among the ‘advisers' to the interim government suggests that India will have little leverage going forward.2. Increased Border Security RisksIndia shares a long, porous border with Bangladesh. The political instability and potential increase in extremist groups could lead to more infiltration, smuggling, and illegal migration into India's northeastern states, posing internal security risks. Monitoring the border region will be critical. As it is, there are millions of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya residing in India, which actually poses a threat to internal Indian security.3. Economic FalloutBangladesh is India's largest trading partner in the region, with $13 billion in commerce under the Hasina government. A deterioration in relations could hurt Indian exports and investments. The economic interdependence means India also has a stake in Bangladesh's stability and prosperity. Brahma Chellaney pointed out that Bangladesh is in dire straits, and has requested $3 billion from the IMF, $1.5 billion from the World Bank, and $1 billion each from the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency to tide over problems. 4. Climate Change ChallengesBoth countries are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, floods, droughts and extreme weather events. Bangladesh is especially at risk due to its low-lying geography. Millions of climate refugees could seek shelter in India, straining resources and social cohesion.  5. Geopolitical ImplicationsThe regime change has opened up space for China to expand its influence in Bangladesh. India will need to balance its ties with the new government while countering Chinese inroads in the region. The U.S. is also closely watching developments in Bangladesh. Instability in the region plays into the hands of Pakistan, whose medium-term ambition would be to detach India's Northeast as revenge for the creation of Bangladesh and for increasing normalization in J&K.6. Quota ImplicationsIndians, especially those agitating for ‘proportional representation' should note that the Bangladesh quota system was abolished in its entirety by Sheikh Hasina's administration in 2018 in response to student demands. India has a constitutional limit of 50% for reservations, but some are agitating for even more, which is a sure recipe for resentment and possibly violence. It is not inconceivable that it could be the spur for regime change in India as well.7. Human rights for Hindus and Buddhists; Citizenship Amendment Act and the Right to ReturnThe Hindu population in Bangladesh has fallen dramatically from about 28% in 1971 to about 8% now, and there is every indication that this is a demographic under extreme duress. Buddhist Chakmas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are also under stress. India should enhance the CAA or create a formal Right to Return for Hindu and Buddhist Bangladeshis. Writing in Open magazine, Rahul Shivshankar pointed out that Hindus had faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts.In summary, the fall of the Hasina government and the long-term threat of climate change compel India to rethink its Bangladesh policy. Fostering stable, democratic and economically prosperous neighbors is in India's own interest. Rebuilding trust and deepening cooperation on shared challenges will be key to navigating the new realities in the region.2350 words, Aug 26, 2024 Get full access to Shadow Warrior at rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Ten years ago, the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a campaign of mass atrocities to achieve the religious and ethnic cleansing of religious minority groups in Iraq and Syria. In 2016, the U.S. State Department determined ISIS's atrocities against Yazidis, Christians, and Shi'a Muslims constituted crimes against humanity and genocide. Ten years on, survivors face multiple threats to their religious freedom, security, and existence within their homelands.Today, Ambassador David Saperstein, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and the Hon. Frank Wolf, former U.S. Representative (R-VA 10th) and former Commissioner at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), join USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst Susan Bishai. They share their firsthand insight into the United States' response to ISIS's genocide and crimes against humanity, as well as offer recommendations for the U.S. to support religious freedom for the surviving communities, ten years on.Listen to USCIRF's first podcast in this series commemorating the tenth anniversary of ISIS's genocide. Read USCIRF's 2024 Annual Report Chapter on Iraq and view USCIRF's Hearing on Religious Minorities & Governance in Iraq.With Contributions from:Susan Bishai, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Ten years ago, the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a campaign of mass atrocities to achieve the religious and ethnic cleansing of Yazidis, Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Christians, Shi'a and Sunni Muslim Turkmens, Shabaks, and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. In 2016, the U.S. State Department determined ISIS's atrocities against Yazidis, Christians, and Shi'a Muslims constituted crimes against humanity and genocide. In 2019, an international coalition defeated ISIS's last territorial hold in Iraq and Syria. However, ten years on, survivors face multiple threats to their religious freedom, security, and existence within their homelands. Jamileh Naso, President, Canadian Yazidi Association; Nadia Cavner, Philanthropist and Advocate for Assyrians; and Dr. Ali Akram Albayati, Co-Founder, Turkmen Rescue Foundation join USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst Susan Bishai to discuss religious minorities' ongoing struggles to rebuild in the region.Read USCIRF's 2024 Annual Report Chapter on Iraq and view USCIRF's Hearing on Religious Minorities & Governance in Iraq.With Contributions from:Susan Bishai, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

TCA colleague Ashley McGuire joins to discuss the scandalous Paris Olympics opening ceremony calling it "a wordless display of blaspheming bigotry followed by a faux apology." She also charts us through Kamala Harris' track record when it comes to religious freedom and the unborn. We also talk with Maureen Ferguson who now serves as a USCIRF chair to discuss the troubling religious grievances that our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua face. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily to prepare us for this Sunday's Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 5pmET on EWTN radio!

The French government has prohibited French athletes from wearing religious garb while competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. As such, French athletes who wish to wear religious garb are forced to choose between adhering to their sincerely held religious beliefs and competing at the highest level of sport. This tight regulation of religious expression is not unusual in France, where the government has enacted similarly strict restrictions on wearing religious garb in public spaces. France has also seen a proliferation of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, as well as governmental anti-cult efforts negatively impacting religious organizations.  On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, Supervisory Policy Analyst Scott Weiner and Researcher Luke Wilson discuss the French government's worrying restrictions on wearing religious garb in the public sphere.  With Contributions from:Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRFLuke Wilson, Researcher, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

It's Monday, July 15th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistan among worst violators of religious freedom The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that the State Department designate Pakistan as a “Country of Particular Concern”, citing its Islamic blasphemy laws as a prime reason for religious freedom violations, reports Morning Star News. Muslims in Pakistan continues to perpetrate widespread abuses of religious freedom, including forced conversions of Christian and Hindu girls to Islam, and targeted violence against religious minorities, according to the 2024 USCIRF report. (p.40-41) If the U.S. State Department designated Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern, it would subject it to potential sanctions and other diplomatic measures aimed at improving religious freedom conditions. Attempted assassination of Donald Trump at campaign rally As former President Donald Trump was delivering a speech in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, shots rang out, and he clutched his right ear, which was bleeding, as filmed by Fox 45 Baltimore. Just seconds before the shooting, Trump called Joe Biden the worst president in America for allowing millions of illegal immigrants to cross our Southern border. Listen. TRUMP: “And then the worst president in the history of our country took over and look what happened to our country. Probably 20 million people. And you know, that's a little bit old --  that chart. That chart's a couple of months old. And if you want to really see something that's sad, take a look at what happened. …” (audio of shots) SECRET SERVICE AGENT 1: “Get down. Get down.” SECRET SERVICE AGENT 2: “What are we doing?” Later, on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” After those shots rang out, Secret Service agents swarmed the president, taking him to the ground while shielding him from any additional fire. SECRET SERVICE: “Shooter is down. Are we good to move? Are we clear? We're clear. Let's move. Let's move. We're clear.” As the Secret Service were ready to move him to his car, Trump asked them to wait. TRUMP:  “Wait, wait, wait.” (You can click on this link to hear everything the microphones picked up). The former president, his face smeared with blood, thrust his fist into the air and told the crowd, “Fight, fight, fight.” The crowd erupted in a tidal wave of approval, followed by chants of “USA.” CROWD: (cheers) “USA. USA. USA. USA. USA.” Eyewitness saw man with rifle bear crawling up a nearby roof The BBC interviewed an eyewitness outside the security perimeter who claimed he saw the shooter who had bear crawled up a roof with a rifle just five minutes before firing shots. EYEWITNESS 1: “We noticed the guy crawling, bear crawling, up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us. We're pointing at the guy crawling up the roof.” BBC REPORTER: “And he had a gun, right?” EYEWITNESS 1:  “He had a rifle.” REPORTER: “A rifle.” EYEWITNESS 1: “You can clearly see him with a rifle. Absolutely! We're pointing at him. The police are down there running around on the ground. We're like, ‘Hey, man, there's a guy on the roof with a rifle.' You know, we're like, ‘Hey, right here on the roof. We can see from right here. We see him.' “I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, ‘Why is Trump still speaking? Why have they not pulled him off the stage?' I'm standing there pointing at him for two or three minutes. Secret Service is looking at us from the top of the barn. I'm pointing at that roof. Next thing you know, five shots rang out.” REPORTER: “You're certain that the shots came from that guy on the roof?” EYEWITNESS 1: “100%. 100%. The roof the way the slope went, he was behind where they could see. But why is there not Secret Service on all of these roofs here? I mean, this is not a big place.” REPORTER: “You're pretty sure they shot the guy.” EYEWITNESS 1: “Absolutely. 100%. Yep.” Romans 13:3-4 says, “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” One killed and another injured in the stands Sadly, Trump was not the only innocent person who was shot.  A Trump rally participant, who was an eyewitness to the two other people who were shot in the stands, told ABC News what he saw. EYEWITNESS 2: “I was just about, like, 30 feet from Trump. And then I saw the people that had been shot. They were bringing them down in the stands right above me. I just saw the man that was hit in the head. There was a lot of blood and I knew there was no way he was going to survive that and then there were two of them that they brought down but it was like real chaos.” ABC NEWS REPORTER: “What was going through your mind as you saw that person with tons of blood on them?” EYEWITNESS 2: “Maybe this was the shooter and that he committed suicide. I didn't think about just like someone that was in the stands.” In Trump's Truth Social post, he wrote, “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.” EYEWITNESS 2: “Trump survived. It would have been horrible news and worst news if he had been killed. So, that's good. Every generation thinks, ‘Well, we're past that. We're not going to have any more assassination attempts.' And then you have something else.” Biden: “There's no place in America for this kind of violence.” On Saturday night, President Joe Biden made a 2-minute statement about the apparent assassination attempt, reports CNN. BIDEN: “I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He's with his doctors. Apparently, he's doing well. I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope. “Look, there's no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. “The bottom line is the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able, to be conducted peacefully without any problem. But the idea that there's political violence or violence in America is just not appropriate. Everybody must condemn it. Everybody.” Senator Rubio: “God protected President Trump.” Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida tweeted, “God protected President Trump.” Gary Bauer, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, said, “The Left has produced this vicious atmosphere with their constant demonization of Trump, of Christians, of conservatives, and pro-life activists. They have used this hate for nearly a decade. We must stand up and fight back to save our country.” And Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News, "The attempted assassination of President Trump is evidence of the reality of evil in the world. We thank God for protecting the life of this courageous leader who is a warrior for truth and the friend of Christians everywhere." Don Lemon vs. Candace Owens on homosexual faux marriage And finally, former CNN host Don Lemon, a self-avowed homosexual, asked Candace Owens, a conservative, what she thought about his homosexual faux marriage to a man. LEMON: “What do you think about same-sex marriage?” OWENS: “It's a sin.” LEMON: “You think it's a sin?” OWENS: “It is a sin.” LEMON: “So, you think I'm sinful?” OWNS: “What's that?” LEMON: “You think I'm sinful because I'm married to a man.” OWENS: “Yeah.” LEMON: “You do?” OWENS: “Yeah. You're sinning. You are in a sinful relationship. I don't believe, I actually don't believe marriage can be between two men.” In response to Lemon's post of that clip, two of the first people to react, agreed with Candace Owens. One tweeted, “You asked a Christian what their opinion on same-sex marriage was, they gave you the Biblical response, and you're shocked?” And the other said, “It isn't enough for you to live freely with whoever you choose, you want society to approve and celebrate it too? You're greedy.” Romans 1:24 says, “Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, July 15th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Join me Adam McManus, and my two sons, Honor and Valor, at the Colorado Father-Son retreat Thursday, August 15th through Sunday, August 18th. Go to ColoradoFatherSon.com.  Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In 1998, Republicans and Democrats came together to pass the International Religious Freedom Act, creating USCIRF as an independent government Commission led by a bipartisan group of nine Commissioners appointed by both political party leaders in Congress, and by the president. Twenty-five years later, USCIRF's Commissioners continue to lead the non-partisan staff to monitor egregious religious freedom violations around the world and to make independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck and Vice Chair Eric Ueland join us to discuss USCIRF's bipartisan nature and its unique framework to ensure international religious freedom remains a bipartisan issue in U.S. foreign policy. Read USCIRF's 2024 Annual Report With Contributions from:Stephen Schneck, Chair, USCIRFEric Ueland, Vice Chair, USCIRFJamie Staley, Acting Director of Research & Policy, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

In this interview, John Pinna speaks with Nury Turkel, a former commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), about his life experiences and work in promoting religious freedom globally. Turkel discusses his background as a Uyghur born in a re-education camp in China, his journey to the United States, and his advocacy for religious minorities. He explains the importance of the USCIRF's annual report, detailing how it designates countries of particular concern and special watch list countries based on religious freedom violations. Turkel emphasizes the significance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right and its role in U.S. foreign policy. He also addresses challenges in advocating for religious freedom, including bureaucratic resistance, global events affecting religious communities, and the need for a multifaceted approach to addressing religious persecution. The interview concludes with Turkel suggesting practical steps for advancing religious freedom globally, including working with willing countries, advocating for prisoners of conscience, and building international coalitions. https://www.nuryturkel.com/ Special Guest: Nury Turkel.

Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland, commissioners of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), will join Elizabeth Cassidy, senior strategic advisor of USCIRF, to present the key policy recommendations of the USCIRF 2024 annual report and the foreign policy implications of international religious freedom today.  USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations. USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the president or congressional leaders of each political party, and are supported by a non-partisan professional staff. 

Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland, commissioners of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), will join Elizabeth Cassidy, senior strategic advisor of USCIRF, to present the key policy recommendations of the USCIRF 2024 annual report and the foreign policy implications of international religious freedom today. USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations. USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the president or congressional leaders of each political party, and are supported by a non-partisan professional staff.

This July, Turkey's illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus will hit the 50-year mark. 2024 also marks another Cypriot “anniversary”, the 2004 rejection of the Annan Plan for the reunification of Cyprus. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why the rejection of the Annan plan needs to be revisited and its historic significance reconsidered. We also look into other regional developments - from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' meeting with Turkish President Erdogan to the latest diplomatic crisis with North Macedonia.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:CYPRUS' “OXI” DAYGreece-Turkey: The modus operandi and the way aheadErdogan rebukes Greek PM for calling Hamas ‘terrorists,' says 1,000+ members being treated in TurkeyHALC calls on USCIRF to reclassify the Republic of Turkey as a Country of Particular ConcernEU to deploy hundreds of firefighters to vulnerable states ahead of wildfire season

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) just released its annual report on freedom of religion in the world. The sections on Central Asia make for grim reading. Constitutionally, people in Central Asia can practice whatever faith they choose. In practice, however, only the state-approved forms of Islam and the Russian Orthodox Church are acceptable to authorities in Central Asia. Other groups face a myriad of problems; discussions of religion posted on social networks that stray from state sanctioned norms can lead to legal repercussions. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss are Mollie Blum, a researcher at USCIRF who helped compile the data on Central Asia for the recent report, and Felix Corley, editor of the Forum 18 News Service that monitors religious freedom in the former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe.

Religious freedom remains under threat globally from concerning trends like transnational repression, blasphemy laws, attacks on religious sites, and discrimination against minorities. As we examine these challenges, it's crucial we approach them with empathy and a shared commitment to protecting this fundamental human right for all people. Working together with compassionate solutions allows us to uphold human dignity and build a more tolerant world.

Earlier this week Turkey formally opened the monastery of Chora, a former Byzantine church and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, as a mosque. The move follows the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, and has drawn international criticism. It also comes as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom once again recommended that Turkey be put on the special watch list for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Expert Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir joins Thanos Davelis to look at what this decision will mean for Chora Church, and look at the message it sends on religious freedom, especially in light of the latest USCIRF report. Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir is the coordinator of Anti-Defamation League's Task Force on Middle East Minorities, serves as the co-chair of the Middle East Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and is an expert on religious cultural heritage. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosqueUSCIRF 2024 Annual ReportNorth Macedonia elects first woman president, EU-leaning coalitionGreece extends naval advisory to deter Russian oil ship-to-ship transfers

Quốc hội Việt Nam ngày 2/5 đã tiến hành kỳ họp bất thường và bỏ phiếu miễn nhiệm chức vụ Chủ tịch Quốc hội đối với ông Vương Đình Huệ. Xem thêm: https://bit.ly/3wSHe49 Tin tức đáng chú ý khác: Quốc hội Việt Nam ra nghị quyết đồng ý bắt giam bí thư tỉnh Bắc Giang. USCIRF đề nghị Mỹ đưa Việt Nam trở lại danh sách ‘Cần quan tâm Đặc biệt về Tự do tôn giáo'. Sau áp lực của Mỹ, Israel cho phép thêm viện trợ nhân đạo vào Gaza. Phi đạn Nga tấn công kho bưu chính của Ukraine, 14 người bị thương. Nga trưng bày ‘chiến lợi phẩm' thu được ở Ukraine. Sập đường cao tốc ở Trung Quốc, ít nhất 48 người chết. Philippines triển khai ‘nhà tắm di động' để giúp dân chống chọi nắng nóng.

Ủy hội Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) hôm 1/5 công bố báo cáo tự do tôn giáo 2024, tiếp tục kêu gọi Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ chỉ định Việt Nam là Quốc gia Cần quan tâm Đặc Biệt (CPC) vì cho rằng chính quyền nước này “đàn áp tôn giáo một cách nghiêm trọng.”

Carmen LaBerge talks about Detroit Pistons star Jaden Ivey, and his boldness in living out and sharing his faith in Jesus.  She also talks about why Rabbi Abraham Cooper of USCIRF recently was turned away from a World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia because he was wearing a Jewish skull cap.  Patrick Morley, author of "From Broken Boy to Mended Man," talks about his boyhood brokenness, and finding healing of the wounds through the grace of God. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

In 2020 Turkey's government changed the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque. Now, Ankara is looking to repeat this with another important UNESCO World Heritage site, Chora Church. In response, HALC has launched a petition calling on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to exert pressure on Turkey for the protection of its Christian minorities and Christian cultural heritage. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou joins Thanos Davelis to look at why preserving Chora Church is important, and break down how USCIRF can take action - including visiting Turkey and the occupied territories of Cyprus.Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou is a professor in the International Studies Department at Boston College, an internationally recognized leader on issues of religion and human rights, and a previous Vice Chair and Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.Add you name to HALC's petition to USCIRFYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey revives plan to convert another iconic Byzantine site into a mosqueDendias: After Red Sea mission, Greece seeks key role in EU defenseTurkey spy chief Kalin to meet CIA's Burns, discuss Syria on first US visit

Tom Carter worked in Washington for years, in journalism and then in PR. For three years, he handled media relations at USCIRF, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, where his boss was one Leonard Leo, a key figure in the conservative legal movement and the capture of SCOTUS. The conversation explores the background, influence, and agenda of Leonard Leo; his management style, his use of dark money, his involvement with the Federalist Society and other organizations; his connections to Clarence Thomas and other influential figures; and the extreme radical Catholic religious beliefs that animate his opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights. The conversation also delves into the potential ramifications of Leo's actions, his expansion into the media and entertainment industry, and the future of his influence. Overall, it highlights the danger and harm caused by Leo's agenda. Plus: Cole Porter lives!Takeaways:Leonard Leo is a key figure in the conservative legal movement and has significant influence behind the scenes.Leo's use of dark money and his web of organizations have allowed him to boost the conservative legal movement and shape the Supreme Court.His radical Catholic beliefs and agenda drive his opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights.Leo's expansion into the media and entertainment industry through the Teneo Society raises concerns about his potential influence in these areas.The real-world ramifications of Leo's actions include the erosion of democratic principles and the harm caused to marginalized communities.00:00: Episode introduction10:43: Beginning of the interview22:37: Leonard Leo's Influence and Methods25:28: Dark Money and Leonard Leo's Organizations36:55: Relationship between Leonard Leo and Clarence Thomas47:19: The Libertarian Billionaires and Leonard Leo's Agenda52:19: The Distinction between Radical Catholicism and Mainstream Catholicism1:06:26: Leo's networks1:17:27: The Virtually Unlimited Financial Resources of Leonard Leo1:32:16: The Danger and Harm Caused by Leonard Leo's ActionsFollow Tom:https://twitter.com/Thcarter5https://www.threads.net/@thcarter123Subscribe to the PREVAIL newsletter:https://gregolear.substack.com/aboutWould you like to tell us more about you? http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short

One of USCIRF's key functions is to make recommendations to the State Department about which countries we think should be designated as Countries of Particular Concern or CPCs, based on our independent research and analysis. Every year we await the State Department's announcement of its religious freedom designations to assess how they match up with USCIRF's recommendations. On today's episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Chair Abraham Cooper and Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie join us to discuss the State Department's most recent CPC designations—specifically the countries we think should have been added to this list including India, Nigeria, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Syria. Read USCIRF's Press Release on the 2023 State Department IRF DesignationsWith Contributions from:Abraham Cooper, Chair, USCIRFFrederick A. Davie, Vice Chair, USCIRFElizabeth Cassidy, Director of Research & Policy, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Carmen LaBerge has finally settled in her word for the year:  Small!  She talks about why going small likely has huge impacts, especially for the Kingdom of Jesus. Mission Network New's Ruth Kramer talks about USCIRF calling out the US State Department over lackluster censorship of Nigeria and India for violations of religious freedom.  she also looks at the crisis at Israel-Lebanon border with Hezbollah, and how Iran is cracking down on the Church in that country using AI. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Get an inside look at the U.S. House of Representatives and the challenges of Christian nationalism in this week's episode. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman take you behind-the-scenes of Amanda's testimony to Congress, held on the same day lawmakers elected Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to be Speaker of the House. They share key moments from the hearing on religious freedom around the world, including a powerful moment with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. Plus, they discuss troubling statements from Speaker Johnson, his embrace of Christian nationalism, and how he might navigate his new role.    Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Returning to testify before Congress Read Amanda's written testimony at this link. Watch a portion of Amanda's opening statement at this link, and watch the entire hearing on the YouTube channel of the U.S. House Oversight's Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. Learn more about the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom here. It is also known by its initials USCIRF, pronounced “You-Surf” in conversation. The United Nations has a website page devoted to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will be Dec 10, 2023. Read more about BJC's advocacy fighting the travel ban here.    Segment 2 (starting at 17:34): Questions from Congress and an exchange with Rep. Maxwell Frost You can watch the exchange with Amanda and Rep. Frost at this link.   Segment 3 (starting at 30:08): Speaker Mike Johnson and Christian nationalism  Amanda is quoted in this article by Nick Mordowanec for Newsweek: Mike Johnson Uses Bible to Justify ‘Aggression,' Urges Christians to Fight Amanda is quoted in this article by Peter Smith for the Associated Press: Christian conservatives cheer one of their own as Mike Johnson assumes Congress' most powerful seat Brian Kaylor and Jeremy Fuzy of Word&Way wrote this piece on Speaker Mike Johnson for the “A Public Witness” newsletter: Christian nationalism in the Speaker's chair Dr. Kristin Du Mez did a Q&A with Politico's Katelyn Fossett about Speaker Johnson: ‘He Seems to Be Saying His Commitment Is to Minority Rule' Dr. Andrew Whitehead and Dr. Samuel Perry wrote this piece for TIME magazine: The Christian Nationalism of Speaker Mike Johnson Amanda mentioned Dr. Walter B. “Buddy” Shurden's writings on Baptist history. Click here to read a copy of his “How We Got That Way” presentation on Baptists and religious liberty.   Holly mentioned this piece in The New Yorker by David Kirpatrick on ADF: The next targets for the group that overturned Roe Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

Why is there so much religious mob violence in Pakistan? Sources: 1. Blasphemy and Violence by Ron E. Hassner https://www.jstor.org/stable/23019512 2. Blasphemy in the Christian World by David Nash https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blasphemy-in-the-christian-world-9780199570751 3. USCIRF's report: ENFORCING THE WORLD'S BLASPHEMY LAWS https://www.uscirf.gov/publication/violating-rights-enforcing-worlds-blasphemy-laws 4. Article by PEW Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/25/four-in-ten-countries-and-territories-worldwide-had-blasphemy-laws-in-2019-2/ 5. “Plurality, Dissent and Hegemony: Th e Story Behind Pakistan's Blasphemy Law” by Syed Zainuddin Moulvi and Arafat Mazhar https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/freedom-of-expression-in-islam-9780755637676/ 6. Sahih Muslim 96 https://sunnah.com/muslim:96a 7. 2008 Unholy Speech and Holy Laws: Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan - Controversial Origins, Design Defects by Zahra Hayat and Osama Siddique: https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mjil/25/ 8. Capitulating to the TLP - The Nation https://www.nation.com.pk/04-Nov-2018/capitulating-to-the-tlp Podcasts: 1. Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DZ6h3LcF6o 2. Arafat Mazhar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msRmoRak8LA The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience To support the channel: Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912 Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Corelation does not imply causation 3:30 Blasphemy and Violence 9:00 The Illusion of the Oppressed Majority 15:30 Blasphemy Law and Islam 19:30 History of Mob Violence in Pakistan 26:20 Other factors

In May 2023, violent clashes between two communities erupted in India's Manipur state, leaving entire villages burned and displacing tens of thousands. The ongoing conflict is between the state's majority Hindu Meitei community and the Christian Kuki population and has seen the direct targeting of religious symbols and places of worship and refuge. More than 250 churches of different denominations have been burned or damaged across the state. Religious freedom in India has declined in recent years, marked by the promotion and enforcement of discriminatory laws and practices that negatively impact the country's minority Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Adivasis populations. In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate India as a Country of Particular Concern for systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.USCIRF Policy Analyst Sema Hasan joins Supervisory Policy Advisor Jamie Staley to discuss the current conflict in Manipur and religious freedom conditions in India. Read USCIRF's 2023 Annual Report Chapter on IndiaWith Contributions from:Jamie Staley, Supervisory Policy Advisor, USCIRFSema Hasan, Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) treats people of faith “as though they carry an infectious disease [that] needs to be cured … ‘Reeducation' is a code word for human reengineering,” says Nury Turkel, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). He was born in a reeducation camp in China during the Cultural Revolution. It's been 19 years since he last saw his mother, who remains in China.We discuss the CCP's high-tech tyranny, its war on religious faiths—detailed in a new USCIRF report—and the influence of Chinese lobbying in America.What was America's greatest strategic blunder in its relationship with the CCP? And how can it be rectified now?

Ron Estes, U.S. Representative for the 4th District of Kansas, shares the latest on the debt ceiling negotiations and reacts to the White House's assertion that illegal immigration has dropped 90% during the Biden administration. Joel Griffith, Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, comments on the continuing fallout from the bank failure of First Republic. Michael Toscano, Institute for Family Studies Executive Director, breaks down Utah's new age verification law. Meg Kilgannon, FRC's Senior Fellow for Education Studies, discusses the latest development in the Biden administration's rewrite of Title IX. Arielle Del Turco, FRC's Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, offers her analysis of USCIRF's newly released annual report. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loving-liberty/support

Bogey of religious persecution is thrown at India from time to time. Domestic Left-Liberal-Islamist-Missionary cabal is at most times, and so is an Islamist funded institution like USCIRF. The statistics, however, suggest that over 500 Hindus have been killed by fanatical Muslims as against half a dozen Muslims by Hindus. Abhijit Iyer Mitra, Vibhuti Jha and Richa Gautam join Sanjay Dixit to discuss.

Once again, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended in its 2023 Annual Report that Turkey be placed on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir, the coordinator of ADL's Task Force on Middle East Minorities and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute, joins Thanos Davelis to look at religious freedom conditions in Turkey and highlight the key issues raised in USCIRF's report. We also explore what steps the US can take to move things in the right direction on religious and human rights in Turkey.Read USCIRF's Annual Report here: 2023 USCIRF Annual ReportYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens pushes back against Tripoli maritime zone claimsChristodoulides meets Macron in ParisMacron affirms support on Cyprus problemPresident meets top Total executives in Paris

In this climax episode, Asra Nomani exposes the various organisations and Islamic nations intervening in India to destabilize her. Examples: George Soros' Open Society and its various offshoots; Islamist organisations; Muslim countries; the Turkish government's dreams of resurrecting the Islamic Caliphate which includes India; US think tanks;, and organizations like USCIRF. They also discuss whether Indian Muslims can become Swadeshi/Patriotic Muslims without loyalties to foreign countries. They discuss reform in Islam, and the conflicts of such a movement with orthodox Islam. For Part 1 see https://youtu.be/Wh_GVdfoY44 For Part 2 see https://youtu.be/xhP9bzTddiI For Part 3 https://youtu.be/-BFkaHLU9Ks Snakes in the Ganga - http://www.snakesintheganga.com Varna Jati Caste - http://www.varnajaticaste.com The Battle For IIT's - http://www.battleforiits.com Power of future Machines - http://www.poweroffuturemachines.com 10 heads of Ravana - http://www.tenheadsofravana.com To support Infinity Foundation's projects including the continuation of such episodes and the research we do: इनफिनिटी फ़ौंडेशन की परियोजनाओं को अनुदान देने के लिए व इस प्रकार के एपिसोड और हमारे द्वारा किये जाने वाले शोध को जारी रखने के लिए: http://infinityfoundation.com/donate-2/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rajivmalhotrapodcast/support

Top headlines for Friday, April 28, 2023A former youth pastor turned financial advisor who is now on the FBI's most wanted list for allegedly defrauding dozens of investors of millions of dollars, a country superstar who left his successful music career to pursue a life working in ministry due to his experience with self-idolatry, and a demonstration in Texas demanding action in response to the US-Mexico border crisis. We also discuss Tucker Carlson's final public address before leaving Fox News, in which he advises concerned Americans to pray.Subscribe to this Podcast Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Overcast Follow Us on Social Media @ChristianPost on Twitter Christian Post on Facebook @ChristianPostIntl on Instagram Subscribe on YouTube Get the Edifi App Download for iPhone Download for Android Subscribe to Our Newsletter Subscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and Thursday Click here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning! Links to the News Former megachurch youth pastor now on FBI's Most Wanted list | U.S. News Charles Stanley's grandson selling famed preacher's items on eBay | U.S. News Christian author Dave Hollis died of accidental overdose | U.S. News PCUSA's first black head of denomination to step down | Church & Ministries News Granger Smith reveals why he's leaving Country music | Entertainment News Biden DOJ sues Tenn. for banning sex-change surgeries for kids | Politics News Ilhan Omar to give remarks at USCIRF religious freedom event | Politics News Rally to demand action in response to southern border crisis | Politics News Arizona Democrat, ordained minister hides Bibles in statehouse | U.S. News Tucker Carlson: 'We all should be' praying for America | U.S. News

In recent years USCIRF has reported that religious freedom conditions in Algeria have continued to deteriorate with the government increasingly enforcing blasphemy laws and restricting worship. These laws particularly impact religious minorities, such as Protestant Christians and Ahmadiyya Muslims. In 2022, the U.S. Department of State placed Algeria on its Special Watch List (SWL), following USCIRF's recommendation. USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst, Madeline Vellturo, joins Researcher, Hilary Miller, to discuss the continued decline of religious freedom in Algeria.Read USCIRF's Law and Religion in Algeria FactsheetWith Contributions from:Madeline Vellturo, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRFHilary Miller, Researcher, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

In 2016, Congress passed the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act which mandated that USCIRF maintain a list of individuals targeted for their religion or belief. In 2019, USCIRF launched its Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List – an online database that catalogues persons detained, imprisoned, placed under house arrest, disappeared, forced to renounce their faith, and tortured for their religious belief, religious activity, and religious freedom advocacy. Since then, the FoRB Victims List has documented almost 2,000 victims with that number unfortunately continuing to grow.USCIRF Researcher, Dylan Schexnaydre, joins Research Analyst, Zack Udin, to discuss the database's background, recent upgrades, and data for 2022.Read USCIRF's Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) FactsheetView USCIRF's Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List or complete the Victims List Intake Form. With Contributions from:Dylan Schexnaydre, Researcher, USCIRFZachary Udin, Research Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Governments around the world use many different strategies to control or repress religion, but a common tactic is for the state to elevate a particular religion to a special status in ways that can marginalize different faiths or belief systems. USCIRF's recently released report, “A Global Overview of Official and Favored Religions and Global Implications for Religious Freedom,” looks at 78 countries that identify an official or favored religion and subsequently enforce that religion, or a particular interpretation of that religion, through the law. While several countries that maintain these relevant laws do not enforce them or even have a legal framework to enforce them, some countries take these laws seriously and are, in fact, some of the worst violators of freedom of religion or belief. Kurt Werthmuller, Supervisory Policy Analyst and author of this report, joins us today to discuss the findings of this report.Read the full report on “A Global Overview of Official and Favored Religions and Global Implications for Religious Freedom”With Contributions from:Kurt Wertmuller, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRFJamie Staley, Supervisory Policy Advisor, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

Authoritarian states promote religious tolerance without necessarily ensuring freedom of religion or belief. Last month, USCIRF released a report distinguishing between these two concepts and explains the origins of religious tolerance promotion as a tool of statecraft. The report presents case studies of countries engaged in religious tolerance promotion, such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Russia, and Uzbekistan. Dr. David Warren, the author of the report and lecturer in the Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, join us to today to discuss the important findings and ways the U.S. government can utilize discussions of religious tolerance to set a groundwork for broader rights protections.Read the full report on “Tolerance, Religious Freedom, and Authoritarianism”With Contributions from:Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRFVeronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF

The Uyghurs are a Turkic Muslim people who live in a Central Asian land usually called Xinjiang. They have been – and are being – brutally oppressed by China's Communist rulers. There can be no debate about that. Nury Turkel was born in a detention center in Xinjiang. As a young adult, he made his way to America, where he became the first Uyghur to earn a law degree at an American university. Today, he is a prominent human rights attorney, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, and he serves as chairman of USCIRF – the U.S. Commission on International Freedom – appointed by Nancy Pelosi. He has also written a memoir and call to action. Its title: No Escape: The True Story of China's Genocide of the Uyghurs. He joins Cliff to discuss his life, his book, and what remains a dire situation in Xinjiang.