A rare glimpse of bipartisanship in the volatile political atmosphere of Washington D.C. kicked off the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2023 Tuesday, setting a tone of cooperation and mutual understanding for the event.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee joined Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat, on the stage at the Washington Hilton as part of a panel to address why international religious freedom is key to U.S. foreign policy.
The panel followed a welcome by IRF Summit Co-Chair Ambassador Sam Brownback who declared the coalition’s mission was “religious freedom for everyone, everywhere, all the time.” The two day summit brings together a broad coalition “that passionately supports religious freedom around the globe.” Patheos, the world’s homepage for all religions, is a summit partner.
McGovern and McCaul both agreed that religious freedom remains under assault around the world. While acknowledging the panel usually “wouldn’t even agree on lunch,” McGovern touted the work both men have done to promote religious freedom including introducing legislation to promote a peaceful resolution to the Tibet and China conflict.
McCaul highlighted the continued need to address religious freedom abuses in China, Afghanistan, Iran, Nicaragua and Israel, particularly against women.
“To all those listening, we stand with you,” McCaul said.
McGovern noted that as a practicing Roman Catholic he knew his religious freedom depended on the same freedoms for his Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim neighbors.
“Unless freedom of religion belongs to everyone, it doesn’t truly belong to anyone,” McGovern said.
Political diversity gave way to a faith kaleidoscope later in the afternoon when some of the world’s most preeminent religious figures joined a panel session on equal citizenship as envisioned by the Marrakesh Declaration.
The distinguished panel included:
- Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, President of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum
- His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem
- Imam Mohamed Magid, Co-Founder Multi-Faith Neighbors Network and Executive Imam, All Dulles Area Muslim Society
- Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., Co-Founder of Multi-Faith Neighbors Network
- Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center Director Emeritus and Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy
In 2016, The Marrakesh Declaration was signed by more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state, and scholars. It decidedly defended the rights of minority religions in Muslim countries, basing it on Prophet Muhammad’s 1,400 year-old Medina Charter, which they interpret guarantees religious freedom for all.
Through an interpreter, Bin Bayyah said when all religions are at risk and “it is in the best interest to join hands and cooperate with each other.”
He paraphrased Catholic priest and author Hans Küng who said there is “no peace among the nation without peace among the religions.”
Roberts said it was important for people to understand the significance of having someone of Bin Nayyah’s stature advocating for religious freedom.
“I’m a Baptist pastor from Texas and I love Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah,” Roberts said.
Roberts said if people claim that Muslim leaders don’t support religious freedom, “they don’t know the right Muslims. “
Other highlights of the day include hearing from people who had been imprisoned for their religious beliefs and leaders who are spearheading cross-cultural religious literacy in nations around the world.
James Chen, Vice President of Global Operations at the Institute for Global Engagement, said while different religious groups talking was the first step, “we have to move beyond the dialogue to collaboration.”
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