Tom Farr's congressional testimony about the International Religious Freedom Act

Tom Farr -- the first Director of the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom testified before Congress the other day on the implementation of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act.  It's bracing, and important, reading.  Here's a bit:

[T]he first question: why does the United States promote religious freedom in its foreign policy? Can it enhance our national security?

The most immediate answer is that in 1998 Congress passed the International
Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) which mandated the initiative.  IRFA established a State Department office of international religious freedom, put a very senior diplomatic official (an ambassador at large) at its head, and created an independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to provide separate policy recommendations and act as a watchdog. The law also encourages, but does not require, the use of foreign aid to advance religious freedom abroad.

But what’s the rationale for IRFA and the institutions and procedures it establishes? What do we hope to accomplish?

First and foremost, I believe that advancing religious freedom is simply the right thing to do. Unjust restrictions on religious individuals and groups, as well as violent religious persecution, have steadily worsened in recent years. The results have been catastrophic for many people and many societies.

Studies by the Pew Research Center demonstrate that, as of 2010, 75 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where religious freedom is severely restricted. That’s three-quarters of the world’s people. And there is no sign things are getting any better. 

Millions are vulnerable to violent abuse, such as torture, rape, “disappearance,” unjust imprisonment, and unjust execution, because of their religious beliefs and practices, or those of their tormentors. 

A copy of Farr's testimony is available here:  Download Farr testimony.