Antony Blinken
UN chief says it’s time to ‘truly flood’ Gaza with aid and calls starvation there an outrage
By Amr Nabil, Samy Magdy, and Sam Metz — March 25, 2024
RAFAH CROSSING, Egypt (AP) — He spoke a day after the U.N. Security Council failed to reach consensus on the wording of a U.S.-sponsored resolution supporting “an immediate and sustained cease-fire.”
Muslim Leaders from swing states vow to drop Biden support in 2024
By Fiona André — December 8, 2023
(RNS) — Through the #AbandonBiden campaign, Muslim leaders hope to send a strong signal to the Biden administration: Siding with Israel’s deadly strikes in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks comes with a high cost.
Vatican and Vietnam agree to open resident Holy See office in Hanoi, as relations improve
By Nicole Winfield — July 28, 2023
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vietnam formally agreed Thursday to let a Vatican representative live in the country and open an office, a notching up of relations that could have implications down the line for the Holy See’s delicate ties with China.
Biden White House plan to fight antisemitism has its faults. Let’s welcome what’s good.
By Avi Shafran — June 14, 2023
(RNS) — An unprecedented government effort to combat a pressing problem overcomes its own flaws.
For 25th year, State Department reports on threats, triumphs in religious freedom
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — The report, which assesses conditions in 199 countries, also looks at policies and laws, including those about blasphemy and apostasy, that ‘criminalize religious expression.’
Are some human rights more important than others? Religious freedom advocates often put it first
By Laura E. Alexander — May 2, 2023
(The Conversation) — Religious freedom has grown more important in US foreign policy – but does that come at the expense of promoting other human rights?
US targets Russian mercenary group over religious freedom
By Matthew Lee — December 4, 2022
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Friday placed a well-known Russian paramilitary organization on a list of religious freedom violators alongside a number of notorious terrorist organizations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he had designated the Wagner Group as an “entity of particular concern” for its activities in the Central African Republic. Also […]
Religious freedom watchdog seeks Eritrea’s release of 80-year-old Jehovah’s Witness
By Adelle M. Banks — October 14, 2022
(RNS) — A Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman said that ‘there is growing concern that Tesfazion may not live long enough to ever be reunited with his family and friends.’
State Department officials report religious freedom woes, wins across the globe
By Adelle M. Banks — June 3, 2022
(RNS) — The secretary of state and religious freedom ambassador also expressed concern about an increase in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in many countries, including the United States.
Russia added to State Department list of worst religious liberty violators
By Adelle M. Banks — November 17, 2021
(RNS) — Blinken said the Biden administration supports ‘every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right.’
Human rights is on Blinken’s agenda in India. Can he make it stick?
By Simran Jeet Singh — July 30, 2021
(RNS) — If we are going to be partners, we have to hold India to the standards we expect from ourselves.
Pope Francis and Blinken discuss climate change, China at the Vatican
By Claire Giangravé — June 28, 2021
(RNS) — Pope Francis and the US secretary of state discussed a wide range of topics at the Vatican but made no mention of the Communion ban proposed by some US bishops.
US hits China and others for repressing religious freedom
By Matthew Lee — May 13, 2021
(AP) — Secretary of State Blinken also used the report to lash out at abuses of religious freedom in Iran, Myanmar, Russia. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, all of which were identified as offenders.
The religious foundations of Arab-Israel peace
By David Rosen — March 26, 2021
(RNS) — If we aspire to forge truly sustainable peace between people, we must also invoke the values and identities by which they define their lives.
In Biden’s Cabinet, Catholics and Jews dominate
By Yonat Shimron — January 19, 2021
(RNS) — One group not represented in Biden’s Cabinet picks? White evangelicals, the group most loyal to President Donald Trump.
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