Religious Freedom Needs an NSC Quarterback

Yesterday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report on the state of respect for this fundamental liberty around the world. It is, in short, not good.

Known as USCIRF, this commission found that Christian and other faith communities are persecuted in many of the countries it examined. Despite commendable Trump administration engagement on this problem, its sheer magnitude has generally defied immediate redress.

USCIRF, however, made a recommendation that President Trump could implement tomorrow: Appoint a Special Adviser for International Religious Freedom on the National Security Council staff and charge that individual with: developing a government-wide strategy for promoting religious freedom abroad; preparing action plans for specific countries; and overseeing their implementation. Imploding Nigeria would be a good place to start.

This step was authorized when USCIRF was established two decades ago. It should be actualized now.