Violations of religious freedom are often an early warning sign of mass atrocities, according to a new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Released on 9 September, the report highlights a strong connection between protecting religious freedom worldwide and preventing acts of genocide and mass violence.
“Mass atrocities are preceded by a range of early warning signs, such as religious freedom violations,” the report stated. “When religious freedom is systematically denied or religious identities targeted, the risk of atrocity crimes may increase.”
USCIRF commissioner Stephen Schneck explained that the findings came from comparing the commission’s own global reports on religious persecution with the Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Early Warning Project, which tracks countries at risk of genocide.
“What we found was an incredible amount of overlap,” Schneck said, noting that nations facing severe restrictions on faith are often the same ones identified as being at risk of mass killings.
Countries named in both assessments include Burma, Burkina Faso, Syria, Nigeria, Somalia, North Korea, Pakistan, and Iraq.
The report also warned that efforts to marginalise or dehumanise religious minorities can fuel mass atrocities. In some cases, governments or armed groups exploit religion to justify violence, stirring hatred and discrimination against faith communities.
The findings underscore the importance of safeguarding religious freedom as a means of protecting human dignity and preventing large-scale violence.
Adapted from NCR.
