Faith
Refugees Endure Persecution and Loss of Liberty
Faith Facts
- Millions of refugees continue to face religious persecution around the world.
- Christian minorities are being deported, while those tied to terrorist groups may be granted protection.
- Calls are growing for the U.S. and others to prioritize faith-based protections in refugee policy.
Record numbers of people worldwide are displaced by violence and persecution.
Many struggle to keep their religious freedoms, faith leaders and advocates shared at the International Religious Freedom Summit.
Nuri Kino, a Christian advocate who fled persecution himself, told the story of a young Iraqi Christian who, despite excelling in school and integrating into Swedish society, now faces deportation and renewed threat because of his faith.
“Matthias was 9 years old when his father climbed to the roof of their home in Iraq, where families often sleep during the summer, and told them it was time to flee – ISIS was about to take over their city,”
Kino recounted.
Kino noted the troubling reality that asylum guidelines sometimes favor those with extremist affiliations over innocent Christian families in need of genuine protection.
He urged for independent audits in asylum processes to ensure fair and knowledgeable decisions that honor every person’s dignity.
During a panel, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chair Asif Mahmood highlighted America’s historic commitment to the persecuted but warned of sharp declines in refugee admissions and support for religious minorities.
“At the start of 2025, the U.S. administration issued an executive order that suspended the refugee programs pending a review halting the resettlement of all refugees in the pipeline. Many religious minorities from countries such as Afghanistan, Burma and Iran remain in limbo,”
Mahmood stated.
He called for prioritizing resettlement of those escaping the harshest religious persecution and for restoring moral leadership by maintaining strong refugee program ceilings.
Mahmood also pressed for humanitarian aid to be linked with guarantees that Christians and other at-risk communities can freely practice their faith without fear or discrimination.
“Religious persecution is on the rise, and has been on the rise for decades, and we have more refugees in the last 10 decades,”
Mahmood stated, urging persistent advocacy to government officials for protection and compassion.
Christians are called to be a voice for the persecuted and to urge leaders to uphold liberty and justice for believers everywhere.
Stay informed and pray as we contend for faith, family, and freedom worldwide.