Trump calls on world leaders to end persecution of ‘people of faith’
US President Donald Trump has called on world leaders to end religious persecution around the globe.
“To stop the crimes against people of faith, release prisoners of conscience, repeal laws restricting freedom of religion and belief, protect the vulnerable, the defenceless and the oppressed, America stands with believers in every country who ask only for the freedom to live according to the faith that is within their own hearts, ” he said at a UN event on religious freedom.
The United States “is founded on the principle that our rights do not come from government; they come from God,” Trump said. “This immortal truth is proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence and enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
The Founding Fathers “understood that no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous and virtuous society than the right to follow one’s religious convictions,” he added. “Regrettably, the religious freedom enjoyed by American citizens is rare in the world.”
Trump also announced that his administration is committing an additional $25 million to protect religious freedom and religious sites and relics around the world. This is in addition to the administration’s previous commitment that includes providing direct US aid to persecuted Christians in the Middle East, routing it through the US Agency for International Development.
Picture: US President Donald Trump speaks during the ‘Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom’ event at UN headquarters in New York City on 23rd September 2019. Trump called on world leaders at the UN event to end religious persecution around the globe. (CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters).
Tags: Donald Trump, faith, leaders, persecution, President Donald Trump, President Trump, religious persecution, trump, UN, US, world, world leaders