The Law That Helped Put Religious Freedom on the World Stage

By International Multi-Faith Coalition

LOS ANGELES — Antisemitism. Islamophobia. Attacks on houses of worship. Religious persecution.

Across the world, people of many faiths continue to face intimidation, discrimination and violence because of what they believe, how they worship or the communities to which they belong.

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 marked a turning point in the global effort to protect freedom of belief. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton, the act made religious freedom a central part of U.S. foreign policy and helped bring greater international attention to the rights of people persecuted for their faith.

The law created key tools to monitor and respond to violations of religious freedom worldwide, including the Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State, the annual International Religious Freedom Report and the position of U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Robert A. Seiple was the first person to serve in that ambassadorial role. Years later, Ambassador Sam Brownback helped bring renewed public attention to the issue, becoming one of the most recognized advocates for international religious freedom during his service from 2018 to 2021.

Through government engagement, roundtables, ministerials and summits, religious freedom advocates from many faith traditions have worked to give a voice to individuals and communities targeted because of their beliefs.

These efforts have helped strengthen a global movement rooted in a simple principle: No person should be persecuted for their faith, and no house of worship should be treated as a target.

For the International Multi-Faith Coalition, that mission is urgent and deeply personal.

The coalition’s message is clear: Restore sacrosanctity to all houses of worship. We are family. Respect the religious beliefs of others.

That message speaks to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, gurdwaras and all sacred spaces where people gather to pray, reflect, mourn, celebrate and serve their communities.

The International Religious Freedom Act did not end religious persecution. But it helped ensure that persecution could no longer be ignored as a private matter or dismissed as an internal concern of individual nations. It placed religious freedom among the fundamental human rights that governments, civil society and faith communities must defend.

Today, as antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of religious hatred continue to rise, interfaith cooperation is more important than ever. Defending one community’s right to worship protects every community’s right to worship.

The work continues in public policy, in local communities and in relationships built across faith lines. It continues when leaders speak out against hate, when neighbors stand together after attacks and when people of different religions recognize one another’s dignity.

The International Multi-Faith Coalition remains committed to advancing that work.

Religious freedom is not only a legal principle. It is a human commitment to conscience, dignity and peace.

And it begins with respect.

About the International Multi-Faith Coalition

The International Multi-Faith Coalition works to promote respect among people of all faiths and to restore sacrosanctity to all houses of worship.

Our message:

Restore sacrosanctity to all houses of worship.

We are family.

Respect the religious beliefs of others.

For more information, visit www.theimfc.org.