Washington D.C., Apr 6, 2017 / 15:25 pm
Religious freedom advocates at the United States capitol on Thursday sent a message of solidarity to all those imprisoned or tortured for their religious beliefs.
"You are not alone. We are here with you, and we together will fight for your freedom," Kristina Arriaga, a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, stated April 6 to two prisoners she sponsored as part of a forthcoming project on "prisoners of conscience."
Under the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, signed into law in December by President Barack Obama, the commission was directed to make a list of persons throughout the world who have been tortured, killed, imprisoned, have disappeared, or were placed under house arrest because of their religious beliefs or advocacy.
The commission monitors religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations to the State Department.