Knox Thames

Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 28 To say that a lot has happened in Washington, DC since January would be an epic understatement. I want to address the freeze on foreign assistance, the demise of USAID, and the suspension of refugee r...

In my latest Religion & Global Affairs newsletter, I discuss the freeze on foreign assistance, the demise of USAID, and the halt on refugee resettlement. I explain why foreign aid and human rights promotion align with U.S. interests and reflect our values. www.knoxthames.com/post/religio...

Religious Persecution is Part of Russia’s Battle Plan A delegation of Ukrainian pastors plead for continued U.S. support.

On Friday, I met with Ukrainian pastors seeking US support against Russia and wrote about it for @thedispatch. The future of US-Ukraine relations is now very uncertain, but we must not overlook Russia's religious persecution and the kidnapping of children. thedispatch.com/article/russ...

Hindu India Has Been Mimicking China's Authoritarians in Persecuting Minorities Yet both Democratic and Republican administrations ignored its rising persecution to counter China even before President Trump's return

UnPopulist Magazine ran an excerpt from my book about religious persecution in India. The country provides an example of a religious majority transforming their beliefs into law at the ballot box and having them enforced against minorities. www.theunpopulist.net/p/hindu-indi...

Extremely productive week of field research investigating how sacred sites from different faiths can promote peaceful pluralism. Appreciate Good Faith Partnership facilitating the many site visits in Coventry and London.

Fascinating to visit Coventry Cathedral and learn about their reconciliation work. Inspiring how, despite the destruction of the cathedral during WW2, they decided to pursued forgiveness and not hate. Their sacred site provides a place to promote peaceful pluralism.

Religious Minorities in Post-Assad Syria - Talk About: Law and Religion Knox Thames, international human rights lawyer and a senior fellow at Pepperdine University, and Andrea Pin, professor of law at University of Padua, discuss religious minority dynamics in post-Assad ...

Appreciated speaking about the challenges facing religious minorities in Syria after the fall of Bashar Al Assad. Thanks International Center for Law and Religion Studies for hosting.
talkabout.iclrs.org/2025/01/26/r...

A cold morning to walk the dog…

Bottom line: the United States should press both China and India on religious freedom concerns, as doing so simultaneously advances U.S. interests and values, resulting in a freer Indo-Pacific.

Thank you, East-West Center, for hosting this thoughtful discussion about religious freedom in Asia. I appreciated the opportunity to highlight my book and share ideas with experts on how the United States can pursue consequential human rights diplomacy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjw3...

Friends in London—Excited to join Nazila Ghanea and others at the LSE Faith Centre to discuss my book 📕 ENDING PERSECUTION later this month.

Don’t miss it—register here:

forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar Join the East-West Center in Washington for a webinar on January 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM ET entitled, "Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar."

I'm excited to join this incredible panel on Thursday. Don't miss the discussion—tune in!

Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar www.eastwestcenter.org/events/asses...

Will the World Protect Syria’s Religious Minorities? The new regime in Damascus brings questions and opportunities.

My Sunday essay for The Dispatch focuses on the future of Christians and other minorities in Syria. Stability will only come to the war-ravaged nation if the new powers treat everyone as equal citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

thedispatch.com/article/will...

Excited to visit Tampa this weekend to speak on ending persecution for ALL. (The timing has no connection with DC weather!) I'll represent CAAP Network at this important event convened by Bayshore Baptist Church and Stefanus Alliance International. bayshorebaptistchurch.com/latest-news/...

Opinion: Advancing religious freedom with refugee resettlement Syrian Christians and other persecuted minorities look to America as a beacon of hope. An effective refugee resettlement system is essential to meet the needs of those fleeing systemic religious perse...

Check out my article for Deseret News about how the United States can effectively combat religious persecution by pairing consequential religious freedom diplomacy with refugee resettlement. The combination can save lives while we encourage countries to reform. www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...

Virginia has some extraordinary scenery, such as the 200-foot-high natural bridge near Lexington. My picture doesn’t do it justice.

New year, new opportunities to make a difference. Praying that in 2025 we can create a brighter future.

It's the Season of Hope -- and there’s still hope the Bengals can make the playoffs!

Through the collective effort of people of goodwill around the world, I hope and pray we can bend the universe a bit closer toward justice in 2025.

Ending Persecution Building on his extensive experience in the U.S. government and as an international human rights lawyer, H. Knox Thames provides fresh, decisive strategies t...

My book is available in both hardback and Kindle on Amazon.
Or if you order from Notre Dame Press, you can save 40% by entering promo code 14HOLIDAY at checkout. undpress.nd.edu/978026820867...

My recommendations focus on Consistency, Coalitions, Call-outs, and Consequences. And while religious freedom diplomacy is crucial, reforms will take decades. A robust refugee resettlement program complements any strategy by providing a way out for those needing immediate rescue.

I identify four typologies: 1) authoritarian persecution, 2) extremist persecution, 3) democratic persecution, and 4) terrorist persecution. But I just don't document the problem--I also discuss responses we attempted at the State Department to advance American values and interests.

As Christmas approaches and 2024 comes to an end, we need to recommit in 2025 to combating persecution impacting anyone for their beliefs. In my book released this year, ENDING PERSECUTION, I define the problem and offer solutions.

Report ranks countries where religion faces highest government and social persecution (RNS) — The Pew Research Center’s annual report on government restrictions on religion highlights that governmental attacks on religion and social hostility toward religion usually ‘go hand in hand.’

A pandemic of persecution continues to victimize people of all faiths and none worldwide, as millions face discrimination or violence for their beliefs. The recent report by Pew shows the magnitude of the problem, with both governmental and societal repression. religionnews.com/2024/12/18/s...

The remarkable events in Syria liberated millions from tyranny, but Syrian Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities remain fearful of their future. Should the new powers persecute Christians and other minorities, these groups will have to run for their lives.

But they are not alone.

I hadn't been to a Washington Wizards game in years. Despite their struggles, fun environment. They played tough and got the win against the Hornets. And it was entertaining to watch Melo drop 34.

Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter, Vol. 5, Issue 27 As the year ends, a few final thoughts for 2024. The return of Donald Trump to the White House and the exit of Bashar al-Assad are seminal events. For the United States, many hope the second Trump adm...

My latest Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter looks back at two seminal events of 2024: Donald Trump's return to the White House and Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in Syria. Both have huge implications for global religious freedom and religious minorities.
www.knoxthames.com/post/religio...

Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar Join the East-West Center in Washington for a webinar on January 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM ET entitled, "Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar."

Appreciate the East-West Center hosting this virtual discussion in early January -- Assessing Religious Freedom in Asia: Perspectives from China, India, and Myanmar -- Looking forward to participating!

www.eastwestcenter.org/events/asses...

Great to enjoy Bahraini hospitality last night at the National Day celebration hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States of America. Enjoyed catching up with many friends.

Fading Christianity in Syria and Iraq The quagmires of Syria and Iraq have forced millions to flee, both internally displaced people and new refugees escaping across borders. The international community is failing to meet their needs, wit...

The overthrow of Assad will have tremendous implications for Syria's historic Christian community. Reposting my article for the @AtlanticCouncil from almost a decade ago -- Fading Christianity in Syria and Iraq -- as many of these issues remain.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...

Enjoyed Emirati hospitality at the @UAEEmbassyUS National Day event tonight.