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A resolution introduced July 17 in Congress formally condemns the persecution of Christians in several Muslim-majority countries and urges the US government to prioritize religious freedom in its foreign policy.
The measure, brought forward by Rep. Riley Moore, R-WV, and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, calls on the president to use diplomatic tools such as trade agreements and national security talks to advance religious freedom and protect persecuted Christian communities, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International reported.
“Our country was founded on religious liberty,” Hawley said in a July 17 press release. “We cannot sit on the sidelines as Christians around the world are being persecuted for declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We must condemn these heinous crimes.”
The resolution, titled House Resolution 594, references specific violations in countries including Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, and Türkiye. It documents examples ranging from mass killings and arbitrary arrests to forced conversions and the systematic closure of churches.
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CatholicVote and ADF International are among the organizations that have endorsed the resolution.
“Catholics play a massive role in American politics, and there are few issues we are more unanimous about than this: We want our leaders to stand up for the rights and dignity of our coreligionists living under the threat of radical Islamism,” CatholicVote Vice President Joshua Mercer stated. “This measure speaks the truth with courage. It also represents an example of our elected officials doing right by their Catholic constituents. We are proud to support it.”
Kelsey Zorzi, director of global religious freedom at ADF International, also commended the resolution.
“No one from any religious background should face persecution for their faith,” said Zorzi. “Yet year after year, Christians remain the most persecuted religious group worldwide, especially in many Muslim-majority countries. We applaud the resolution for recognizing this grave reality and urging U.S. action.”
In Nigeria, the resolution notes, more Christians are killed each year than in all other nations combined. In June, a single attack in Benue State launched by Islamic militants resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Christians.
“Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face rampant persecution for simply acknowledging the name of Jesus,” Moore said in the release. “That is unacceptable.”
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Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List estimates over 380 million Christians experience high levels of persecution worldwide, many in Muslim-majority regions. The resolution calls on the president to use diplomatic channels — including trade and national security talks — to press for the protection of religious minorities.
“When Christians are being killed, silenced, or driven underground, we cannot look the other way,” Zorzi added.
Sean Nelson, legal counsel for ADF, emphasized the resolution’s importance in naming a problem often downplayed.
“The widespread, severe, and systematic persecution of Christians is too often ignored,” he said. “This resolution is important because it clearly identifies what so many won’t: that Christians are often singled out because of what they believe and who they are.”
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