Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins is the most recent member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced Tuesday that Perkins will serve a two-year time period. The commission is tasked with analyzing "the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state, and Congress."
"I am grateful to Majority Leader McConnell for appointing me to this prestigious position. From my post at USCIRF, I look forward to doing all that I can to ensure that our government is the single biggest defender of religious freedom internationally," Perkins mentioned in an assertion. "It is my hope that through the work of USCIRF, the world will become one step closer to recognizing the vital role religious freedom and the defense of religious minorities play in peace, security and human flourishing."
Perkins' appointment to the commission follows years of advocacy for non secular minorities, together with testifying earlier than Congress on a number of events about issues associated to worldwide non secular freedom.
He additionally performed a massive function in calling for the discharge of Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese mom who was sentenced to dying in Sudan for leaving Islam and changing to Christianity. Perkins labored with lawmakers to have her dying sentence overturned and permit her to search refuge within the United States.
"I want to thank Tony Perkins for all of his efforts on my behalf and the persecuted around the world. If it wasn't for God, Tony and those working for religious freedom, I wouldn't be free today. I am excited that Tony will be serving in this new role," Ibrahim shared.
Perkins has additionally personally met with Egyptian President Al-Sisi, Jordan's King Abduallah II, and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to advance non secular freedom of their nations and world wide.
While FRC is a Christian group, he has made a dedication to advocating for the non secular freedom of Christians and non-Christians alike.
Zuhdi Jasser, president and founding father of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD), has seen this dedication first hand.
"As a former member of USCIRF (2012-2016), and having worked with Tony Perkins for many years, I am confident that his clarity and courage in the advocacy of religious freedom and universal human rights will be an outstanding addition to the mission of USCIRF and its vitally important work across the world in these difficult times. Tony is an American patriot who will surely bring to USCIRF a wealth of experience, dedication and passion for international religious freedom issues," Jasser mentioned.