May 20, 2022

Dear John,

Each month, FRC's Center for Religious Liberty covers international religious freedom news -- exploring challenges that believers face abroad.

Here is FRC's top content on international religious freedom this month.

It is with heavy hearts that we watch violence rage in many parts of the world--violence that is often related to shocking violations of religious belief and practice.

We continue to monitor the increasing challenges to religious freedom abroad and invite you to join us in praying, particularly for believers in places such as Nigeria, Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, and beyond, where the persecution of Christians is surging.

USCIRF releases its latest report on the state of religious freedom globally

Recently, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its annual report for 2022. Lela Gilbert assessed the report's findings in an opinion piece at Religion Unplugged. Arielle Del Turco also wrote about the findings in the Washington Update.

Tragedy in war-torn Ukraine

Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has led to terrible bloodshed in eastern Europe and sparked a humanitarian crisis unlike anything seen in Europe in nearly a century. Millions of Ukrainians are fleeing across the border to safety in surrounding countries as Russian forces continue to viciously attack their homeland.

Arielle Del Turco recently returned from a visit to Poland and wrote a Washington Update article describing how Polish churches are loving their Ukrainian neighbors.

Lela Gilbert and FRC's Executive Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin examined Russia's brutality and war crimes in a Newsweek article "Vladimir Putin Must be Tried for War Crimes."

Why is religious freedom essential?

FRC recently published a new resource entitled "Religious Freedom: A Human Right and a Pillar of American Society." It explains why religious freedom is a human necessity, religious freedom's importance in American history, and how robust religious freedom protections benefit everyone.

Coming Soon: Heroic Faith

FRC is delighted to announce the publication of an important new book by Lela Gilbert, Arielle Del Turco, and Lt. (Ret.) Gen. Jerry Boykin called Heroic Faith: Hope Amid Global Persecution. Heroic Faith provides real-life stories of the challenges, dangers, and faithful courage faced by today's Christians in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It will be released July 20, 2022.

As always, we will continue to inform you about our brothers and sisters around the world who do not share our many blessings of religious freedom. Please join us in praying for them.

In His Name,

Lela Gilbert
Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom

Arielle Del Turco
Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them..."
Hebrews 13:3