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Religious freedom key to global security, experts tell Georgetown symposium

Religion News: WASHINGTON (RNS) According to a recent Pew Research Center report, an estimated 77 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where religious freedom is “highly” or “very highly” restricted.

“This, I think, entitles one to use the word ‘crisis,’” said Thomas Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs.

The RFP hosted an all-day conference on religious freedom at Georgetown University on Thursday (July 16).

Titled “Religious Freedom: Rising Threats to a Fundamental Human Right,” the conference  featured a discussion between U.S.  Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota,  the first Muslim member of Congress, and Katrina Lantos Swett, of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Baylor University President Ken Starr served as moderator.

Keith Ellison, Democratic candidate for Congress, greets commuters at a light rail stop in Minneapolis on November 7, 2006. After his election, Ellison became the first Muslim in Congress as well as the first black representative from Minnesota. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Eric Miller *Editors: This photo may only be republished with RNS-MUSLIM-POLL, originally transmitted on July 14, 2015.

Ellison commented on the importance of  protecting minority religions. He noted that he would be working on Friday (July 17), a day Muslims around the world will take off to celebrate  Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.

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