Katrina Lantos Swett
Last-ditch effort aims to fill State Department job combating anti-Semitism
By Lauren Markoe — June 27, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) Jewish and other human rights groups are lobbying Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to fill the job, created by Congress in 2004.
Activists: West is ignoring genocide of Middle East religious minorities
By Lauren Markoe — September 8, 2016
(RNS) The plight of Christians in the Middle East is all but ignored, say their advocates.
Religious freedom key to global security, experts tell Georgetown symposium
By Sara Weissman — July 16, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) When three in four nations restrict religious speech and practice, it's a "crisis," said the director of the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs.
Obama to Jews: Shared values compel support for Israel
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — May 22, 2015
(RNS) ”Jewish values," Obama said, means caring as well about “a Palestinian child in Ramallah trapped without opportunity.”
Mormon woman volunteers to be whipped to save Saudi blogger
By Jana Riess — February 6, 2015
Mormon Katrina Lantos Swett, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, has offered to be whipped 100 times to help save a Saudi blogger from an inhumane punishment.
State Dept. should act on Pakistan’s religious freedom violations, watchdog group says
By Brian Pellot — July 30, 2014
(RNS) The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted “disappointing omissions” in the State Department’s new international religious freedom report, including the absence of Pakistan on its list of worst offenders.
US and EU explore cooperation on religious freedom
By Brian Pellot — February 13, 2014
(RNS) Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom met for the first time with members of the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss a global response to religious freedom violations.
Wanted: a new ambassador-at-large for religious freedom
By Lauren Markoe — January 15, 2014
(RNS) The U.S. is looking for a new ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, a job that took more than two years to fill the last time it was empty. RNS takes a look at some possible candidates.
Critics: State Department is ‘AWOL’ on Iran’s religious freedom
By Adelle M. Banks — March 15, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious freedom activists scolded the State Department for not appearing at a hearing Friday on Iran’s treatment of religious minorities and called for greater government involvement in securing the release of people imprisoned there for their faith.
House considers rising anti-Semitism in Europe, Middle East
By Lauren Markoe — February 27, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) A Wednesday hearing featured activists who fear that growing anti-Semitism in Europe threatens not only Jews, but other religious minorities and the ideal of tolerance in general.
Five Things To Know About Religious Violence in Nigeria
By Lauren Markoe — July 13, 2012
(RNS) Ongoing violence in Nigeria has exacerbated tensions between the country's Muslims and Christians. Here are five things to know about the context behind the killings. By Lauren Markoe.
Ahmadiyya Muslims get warm welcome in Congress
By Lauren Markoe — June 27, 2012
WASHINGTON (RNS) The spiritual leader of the Ahmadi Muslims, a persecuted group who are seen as heretics by many mainstream Muslims, made a rare visit to Capitol Hill. By Lauren Markoe.
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