The collapse of Assad’s regime freed millions of Syrians from his tyranny. However, his overthrow presents significant challenges for Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities and human rights in general. Syrian Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities remain wary of their future. Should the new powers persecute Christians and other minorities in the months ahead, these groups will have to run for their lives.
To assist persecuted believers, the United States needs an open and flexible refugee resettlement program to provide rescue combined with robust religious freedom diplomacy.
And it’s not just Syrian Christians in need of a safe haven; a pandemic of religious persecution is sweeping the world, impacting every faith community somewhere. A new report by the Pew Research Center documented how governmental attacks on religion and social hostility toward religion usually “go hand in hand.” In addition, the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, has found 122.6 million people worldwide forcibly displaced because of “persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.” Religious persecution is a significant factor in many, with billions facing discrimination or violence for peacefully practicing their beliefs.
These global challenges offer no simple solutions, as they are multifaceted and generational. Yet, the United States can meet the challenge of systemic religious persecution and aid victims now by combining robust religious freedom diplomacy with an open and accessible refugee resettlement program. The first Trump administration elevated international religious freedom to unprecedented levels, while the Biden administration drastically increased refugee resettlement. Both approaches are necessary to meet the challenge of global persecution and to help those fleeing because of attacks on account of their faith.
America’s refugee resettlement system, with its thorough vetting process, has provided a vital lifeline for those fleeing religious persecution, including Christians and other persecuted believers. While the hard work of advocating for religious freedom must continue, a responsive and flexible refugee resettlement system complements the global strategy. Reforms will take decades, if not generations, but people in harm’s way need rescue now.
World Relief, a leading refugee resettlement organization affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals, and Open Doors USA recently issued a report on the importance of refugee resettlement to rescue victims of religious persecution. In their report, State of the Golden Door, they identified how religious persecution leads to displacement and migration flows. They note that “when religious persecution becomes sufficiently acute, often compounded by other pressures, many determine that their only option is to flee, whether within their country or to another country as refugees.”
Despite the urgent need, the report expressed concern that the United States’ generous approach as a safe haven is under threat. Yet, by embracing refugees, the United States upholds its legacy as a beacon of hope and opportunity for those in need. Welcoming individuals fleeing persecution — especially those targeted for their beliefs — reaffirms America’s commitment to defending human rights and religious freedom.
Although the report was written before recent events in Syria, it highlighted the dire implications for Christians fleeing religious persecution if the United States were to close its doors. These situations, they wrote, force “Christians around the world … to choose between exposing their families to life-threatening risk at home or fleeing persecution.” The same could very well apply to Syria.
But persecuted Christians are not alone, as other groups also face persecution on account of their faith. World Relief and Open Doors emphasize the importance of broad compassion. People of all religious backgrounds would rather flee their homeland than renounce their beliefs, and thus also need assistance.
Providing refugees a safe haven could be the miracle persecuted believers are praying for. Protecting those victimized by their faith or non-beliefs aligns with our nation’s core values of religious freedom, justice and compassion. By promoting religious freedom abroad and providing refugee resettlement at home, the United States can effectively advance freedom and stability, combat persecution and save lives.
Knox served as a special envoy during the Obama and Trump administrations focused on religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia. He is the author of "Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom."