Club Breakfast- Religious Freedom: Global Threats and the World’s Response

Threats to religious freedom are on the rise, affecting believers from many faiths and from all parts of the world. The United States holds that supporting religious freedom around the world is not only the right thing to do, it is important for global peace and security. Ambassador Brownback discussed in particular the U.S. government’s concerns about China, where there is a crackdown on Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and members of other Muslim minority groups; Christians; and others as they seek to freely practice their beliefs.

Sam Brownback was sworn in as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom on February 1, 2018. He served as Governor of Kansas from 2011 to 2018. Previously he served as a U.S. Senator (1996-2011) and a U.S. Representative in the House of Representatives (1995-1996) from Kansas. While a member of the Senate, he worked actively on the issue of religious freedom in multiple countries and was a key sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.