Faith leaders eager for Trump to fill position

Faith leaders eager for Trump to fill position

WASHINGTON — With religious persecution intensifying worldwide, a number of religious leaders, scholars and human rights advocates are encouraging President Donald Trump to fill the position of Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom within the first 100 days of his presidency.

In previous administration changes it has taken an average of 353 days to nominate someone for the position but according to the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative more than 7,000 people will be killed for their faith in that span of time.

The initiative sent a letter to President Trump signed by 715 human rights and religious freedom advocates, according to The Christian Post. “There is mounting evidence that countries that maintain broad, plural and inclusive religious freedom are less prone to violence, less likely to export terrorism and more likely to grow their overall economy,” said Elijah Brown, executive vice president of 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative.

The letter cited a few examples of persecution worldwide including the continued killing of Christians, Yazidis and others by the Islamic State.

“By nominating an Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom in your first 100 days you can signal your commitment to people of faith and freedom of conscience in a way that requires no new taxes and no new legislation while strengthening highly effective offices,” the letter reads. (TAB)