President Donald Trump urged the United Nations to support the United States in protecting religious liberty around the world and called for an end to religious persecution.
The president’s remarks were delivered at a United Nations event on religious freedom held in New York on Monday. He noted that most of the world’s population live in countries where religious freedom is threatened or restricted.
“Approximately 80% of the world’s population live in countries where religious liberty is threatened, restricted, or even banned,” said Trump.
The president then demanded restrictions on religious liberty be lifted.
“Today, with one clear voice, the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution,” said Trump. “Stop the crimes against people of faith. Release prisoners of conscience. Repeal laws restricting freedom of religion and belief. Protect the vulnerable, the defenseless, and the oppressed.”
Trump later added that protecting religious freedom is one of his “highest priorities,” and promised America “will always be a voice for victims of religious persecution everywhere.”
The Trump administration has prioritized securing religious freedom around the world. The State Department hosted the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom last July, bringing together foreign dignitaries, survivors of religious persecution, and other stakeholders in the fight for religious freedom. The administration’s Genocide Recovery and Persecution Response Program has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to support religious minorities in northern Iraq who suffered genocide at the hands of Islamic State.
