--- title: "International Religious Freedom" description: "The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has assembled a variety of resources on international religious freedom, including event transcripts, Q&As and news clips. Pew Forum Resources Q&A Ten Years of Promoting Religious Freedom Through U.S. Foreign Policy Oct. 16, 2008 Oct. 27, 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the International […]" date: "2008-10-16" authors: - name: "No Author" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/10/16/international-religious-freedom/" --- # International Religious Freedom The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has assembled a variety of resources on international religious freedom, including event transcripts, Q&As and news clips. ## Pew Forum Resources Q&A [Ten Years of Promoting Religious Freedom Through U.S. Foreign Policy](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/events/?EventID=206) Oct. 16, 2008 Oct. 27, 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act, which made the promotion of religious freedom a basic aim of U.S. foreign policy. Pew Forum Visiting Senior Fellow Allen Hertzke assesses the law's impact. Q&A [The Plight of Iraq's Religious Minorities](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/05/15/the-plight-of-iraqs-religious-minorities/) May 15, 2008 Senior Research Fellow Brian Grim explains that sectarian violence, ambiguous legal protections for religious freedom, and other factors have contributed to a deteriorating situation for Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq. Event [Another Trans-Atlantic Divide? Church-State Relations in Europe and the United States](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2007/05/22/another-trans-atlantic-divide-church-state-relations-in-europe-and-the-united-states/) May 22, 2007 The Pew Forum invited a panel of experts from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss the key differences between the U.S. and various European church-state models, including the distinctive virtues and vices of each system. Event [International Religious Freedom: Religion and International Diplomacy](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2007/05/08/international-religious-freedom-religion-and-international-diplomacy/) May 8, 2007 Foreign policy actors continue to debate how religious freedom - and religion itself - should be factored into U.S. foreign policy. The Pew Forum invited three distinguished speakers to address the fundamental questions surrounding the debate. Event [Religion in a Globalizing World](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/events/?EventID=136) Dec. 4, 2006 Peter Berger, professor emeritus of religion, sociology and theology at Boston University, examined the globalization of religious pluralism and how the peaceful coexistence of different racial, ethnic and religious groups has become a global phenomenon. Event [Legislating International Religious Freedom](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2006/11/20/legislating-international-religious-freedom/) Nov. 20, 2006 The Pew Forum, the American Academy of Religion and the Library of Congress' Kluge Center invited four experts to explore why the U.S. has made international religious freedom a priority and in what ways the policy has succeeded or failed. Event [God's Country? Evangelicals and U.S. Foreign Policy](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2006/09/26/gods-country-evangelicals-and-us-foreign-policy/) Sept. 26, 2006 In an article in *Foreign Affairs*, Walter Russell Mead argued that as U.S. evangelicals exert increasing political influence, they are becoming a powerful force in foreign affairs. In recent years, evangelicals have voted overwhelmingly Republican, helping to put conservatives at the helm of U.S. foreign policy, while focusing their energies on a handful of specific issues, including support for Israel, the promotion of religious freedom abroad and the alleviation of hunger in Africa. Other Resources --- ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2008/10/prc.gif) ****[](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/reports/display.php?ReportID=262)[](http://pewresearch.org/pubs/776/china-internet)[](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/reports/display.php?ReportID=253) ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2008/10/newsicon.gif) ****[](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/news/display.php?NewsID=16605)**[](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/news/display.php?NewsID=16558)[](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/news/display.php?NewsID=16525)** ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/uploadedimages/Orphan_Migrated_Content/spacer.gif) ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2008/10/blogs.gif) ****[](http://www.cfia.org/ArticlesAndReports/ArticlesDetail.aspx?id=10386&hId=3672)[](http://www.uscirf.gov/)[](http://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/) [](http://www.america.gov/st/hr-english/2008/September/20080919171601ajesrom0.4588587.html) | Pew Research CenterSept. 17, 2008Unfavorable Views of Jews and Muslims on the Increase in EuropePew Global Attitudes ProjectMarch 27, 2008Few in China Complain About Internet ControlsPew Internet & American Life ProjectJune  22, 2006The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims View Each OtherPew Global Attitudes Project | | | | NewsOct. 6, 2008Iraqis Unite to Restore Minority Representation LawThe New York TimesSept. 29, 2008China's Muslims say Ramadan a time of repressionThe Associated PressSept. 20, 2008US criticizes Asian governments' religion recordThe Associated Press | | | | Other websitesReligious Freedom and U.S. Foreign PolicyCouncil on Faith & International AffairsUnited States Commission on International Religious FreedomReligious FreedomU.S. Department of StateAnnual Report Turns Spotlight on Abuses of Religious FreedomAmerica.gov  |