International Religious Freedom Summit

The Latest

Panelists discuss religious persecution in the West at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025. From left to right: Rabbi Emile Ackermann, a co-founder of Ayeka; Janet Buckingham, the director of global advocacy at the World Evangelical Alliance; Todd Huizinga, a senior fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute; Alliance Defending Freedom International Legal Counsel Sean Nelson.

International Religious Freedom Summit examines religious persecution in the West

Feb 6, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

“People being arrested because of their faith and living out their faith is coming at odds with an increasingly secular... Read more

U.S. Vice President JD Vance addresses the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, 2025.

Citing ancient Church teachings, Vance prioritizes religious liberty at IRF summit

Feb 5, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

“Religious freedom flows from concepts central to the Christian faith,” Vance said in a Feb. 5 speech to hundreds gathered... Read more

Panelists at the 2024 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit on Jan. 30-31, 2024, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

International Religious Freedom Summit offers program for college students

Nov 26, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

The IRF Summit partnership program, taking place Feb. 3–5, 2025, includes training sessions, guided simulations, and conversations with leading scholars. Read more

View of a recreation of an El Chipote prison cell during a photography exhibition of the victims of state repression in Nicaragua and their families, at the Hall of Former Presidents of the Costa Rican Congress in San Jose, on Nov. 5, 2021.

‘Insulted, beaten, imprisoned’ Nicaraguan priest details persecution

Jan 31, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

“If I’m here, it’s not because I wanted to fly to Washington to enjoy three days off with paid travel,”... Read more

A map of Nigeria.

Human rights leaders call for Nigeria to be redesignated as religious freedom violator

Dec 14, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

In 2021, the Biden administration removed Nigeria, a nation notorious for extreme levels of religious persecution, from the Countries of... Read more

A panel discussion at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., June 2022.

Women worldwide face sex-based religious persecution

Jul 6, 2022

By Katie Yoder, Maisy Sullivan

Religious women around the world suffer unique forms of violence and persecution because of their sex — and their ability... Read more