Persecution in Syria, Nigeria, Armenia to get spotlight at US Capitol at International Religious Freedom Summit

Representatives from oppressed faith groups will advocate on behalf of other persecuted communities |
WASHINGTON — This year’s International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit will officially commence Monday with two events hosted on Capitol Hill. Dozens of religious freedom advocates from around the world will meet directly with legislators and civic leaders to raise policy issues that can have a direct impact on advancing freedom of religion or belief around the world. Participants in these meetings will focus on the Summit’s key legislative priorities, among other important policy recommendations.
IRF Summit Congressional Advocacy Day Kick-Off Breakfast:
- 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST in Capitol Visitors Center Auditorium U.S. Capitol
**REGISTER HERE** - Special Panel Discussions on the State of Religious Freedom in Armenia, Nigeria and Syria moderated by Congressional Advocacy Co-Chairs Drew Bowling and Amjad Mahmood Khan
- Speakers include:
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- Sam Brownback
- Katrina Lantos Swett
- Congressman Chris Smith
- Congressman Gus Bilirakis
- Bishop Zaidan
- Michael Rubin
- Nadine Maenza
- Bryan Ardouny
- Aram Hamparian
- Father Garegin
- Tristan Azbej
- Bassam Ishaq
- Robert Destro
- Max Primorac
- Steve Rasche
- Gloria Samdi Puldu
- Christine Arakelian
- David Phillips
- Robert Avetisya
United in Advocacy: A Year in Solidarity with the Persecuted:
- 4:00–5:15 p.m. EST in Rayburn Gold Room (2168) U.S. Capitol Hill
**REGISTER HERE** - Representatives from oppressed faith groups worldwide will share about the challenges, developments, and progress of another persecuted community.
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- Christian (Sean Nelson) → Speaking for Ahmadis
- Falun Gong (Cynthia Sun) → Speaking for Uyghurs
- Ahmadi (Harris Zafar) → Speaking for Christians
- Uyghur (Rushan Abbas) → Speaking for Shias
- Jewish (Rabbi Aharon Ariel Lavi) → Speaking for Rohingya
- Yazidi (Pari Ibrahim) → Speaking for Falun Gong
- Rohingya (Wai Wai Nu) → Speaking for Jewish
- Shia (Mustaffa Akhwand) → Speaking for Yazidis
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- Speakers include:
- Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States
- Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Co-Chair of IRF Summit
- Sam Brownback, former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and Co-Chair of IRF Summit
The IRF Summit schedule and speaker list is available here.
International Religious Freedom Summit is a powerful, broad coalition of religious, human rights and civil society groups that advocate for religious freedom for all people, everywhere at all times.
Samuel Brownback served as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom (2018-21) and is co-chair of IRF Summit.
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett is president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and is co-chair of IRF Summit.