Hello! My name is Julianne Fleischer and I have the amazing opportunity to be a part of Regent University’s Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law Internship and Fellowship Grant Program. This summer, I am working with Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a Non-Profit law firm in California as well as working remotely for the Family Research Council, a Non-Profit public policy organization in Washington, D.C.
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| Julianne’s Workspace |
I am currently working on a project with the Family Research Council in regard to international religious freedom. A number of countries have implemented laws that severely burden religious freedom. I have been researching which countries have implemented apostasy and blasphemy laws and the punishments that are enforced as a result of violating an apostasy or blasphemy law. Apostasy laws make it illegal for an individual to convert from Islam to another religion or to renounce his or her religious beliefs. Blasphemy laws make illegal to publish or state insulting language toward a religion (usually Islam).
The U.S. Department of State publishes a yearly International Religious Freedom Report and according to the report, punishment for those convicted of violating an apostasy or blasphemy law can include marriage annulment, property confiscation, or prison sentences. At least ten countries impose death sentences for those convicted of apostasy or blasphemy.
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| The Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. |
It is a painful reality that there are individuals around the globe who do not have the freedom to exercise their religious beliefs. The threat to religious freedom is not isolated to one region, but is a global threat. Through organizations like the Family Research Council who advocate on behalf of the voiceless and the persecuted, we are able to be faithful stewards of the resources given to us by the Lord to defend religious freedom domestically and globally. Thank you for your continued support!
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
-Provers 31:8-9
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice intern. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.
