Social convener for the global network of International Religious Freedom Roundtables đ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
Great to see former colleagues on the Hill and discuss our shared commitment to protecting religious freedom for persecuted faith communities around the world at the @IRFSummit breakfast and @IRFSecretariat IRF Roundtable yesterday.
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The Roundtable is the building block of Cooperative Engagement youtube.com/shorts/GpNkLQvKm⌠via @YouTube
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As 2025 draws to a close, IRF Secretariat looks back on a year defined by unprecedented growth and the tangible expansion of our global movement.
Our mission is to enhance advocacy efforts with cooperative engagement and a âbuilders approach...â
irfsecretariat.org/news/irf-âŚ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
đ¨CASE UPDATE: On Sept. 25th, the Supreme Court of Nigeria will hold a hearing in the appeal of Yahaya-Sharif Aminu, a young musician previously sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy.
đRead more:
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
Tomorrowâs verdict in the #KÄązĂocuklarÄąDavasÄą is a test of justice.
41 individualsâincl. minorsâface terror charges in #Turkey for praying, fasting & living in student housing.
One intâl observer noted:
âIn a so-called terrorism case, the judge asked nothing about terrorismâonly about studying & praying together.â
@NachoSAmor @nadinemaenza @RepGusBilirakis @RepMcGovern @TLHumanRights @silencedturkey
See the urgent appeal, endorsed by 79 organizations and 321 individualsđđź
canva.com/design/DAGzPL6v7coâŚ
đ¨ Tomorrow in Istanbul: 41 women & girlsâsome just teensâface 6â15 yrs in prison for peaceful acts of faith. 400 signatories call for immediate acquittal & international monitoring. The world must not look away. #GirlsTrial #FaithUnchained #Turkey
đ canva.com/design/DAGzPL6v7coâŚ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
.@RepGusBilirakis raised Turkeyâs human rights and religious freedom violations on the House floorâtargeting minority faith groups and members of the Hizmet Movement. He especially highlighted the unjust trial of young girls, which will have its final sentencing on Sept. 18-19, 2025.
41 women and girlsâstudents, teachers, even teensâface 6 to 15 years in prison for peaceful acts of faith.
Meanwhile, @IrfSecretariat circulated a multi-faith letter with 400 signatures to @SecRubio and @USCIRF urging for their acquittal.
đ canva.com/design/DAGzPL6v7coâŚ
Thank you @RepGusBilirakis & @IrfSecretariat for your support and for raising this issue.
#GirlsTrial #Turkey #KÄązĂocuklarÄąDavasÄą #TĂźrkiye #FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights
@StateDept @StateIRF
@washingtonpost @nytimes @LantosFndn @silencedturkey @OthersInfo @TLHumanRights
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
đ˘ On the latest episode of USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Commissioner @melsanousi1 spoke with Massimo @Introvigne, Editor-In-Chief of @BitterWinterMag, to discuss Article 300 and its impacts on religious freedom in China. uscirf.gov/news-room/uscirf-âŚ
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đ¨ Tomorrow in Istanbul: 41 women & girlsâsome just teensâface 6â15 yrs in prison for peaceful acts of faith. 400 signatories call for immediate acquittal & international monitoring. The world must not look away. #GirlsTrial #FaithUnchained #Turkey
đ canva.com/design/DAGzPL6v7coâŚ
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A total of 400 signatories (79 orgs + 321 individuals) have endorsed a multi-faith appeal urging @StateDept @SecRubio @StateIRF @USCIRF to:
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Demand full acquittal
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Condemn misuse of anti-terror laws
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Ensure international monitoring
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đ Sept. 18â19: The world must not look away.
#GirlsTrial #Turkey #KÄązĂocuklarÄąDavasÄą #TĂźrkiye #FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights
@washingtonpost @nytimes @LantosFndn @silencedturkey @OthersInfo @rumiforum
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
In revisiting communications, in May I joined @UN_SPExperts in condemning the conviction of 5 Jehovahâs Witnesses in #Algeria. Their arrests and convictions raised #ICCPR Arts. 18 & 19 - freedoms of religion/belief #FoRB and expression, & other concerns. spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMReâŚ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
5 years ago, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria for a private WhatsApp message expressing his religious views. He had no legal representation.
@FelaLives stepped in to challenge this grave injustice. Now, the case heads to Nigeriaâs Supreme Court on Sept 25.
More here: adfinternational.org/cases/yâŚ
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RT @CUyghurs: This morning, CFU attended the @IrfSecretariat Roundtable to hear updates from faith leaders around the world on their effortâŚ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
Thank you, @IrfSecretariat for your steadfast support in monitoring the âGirlsâ Trialâ in Turkey. Special thanks to @rebecca_cataldi and @AndreaJilBarron for your presence and advocacy for these 41 women facing unjust charges. Your supports are truly invaluable. #ReligiousFreedom
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
đ¨ A new resolution from @RepRileyMoore and @HawleyMO has condemned the widespread persecution of Christians in countries around the world.
We proudly endorse this resolution and its call to strengthen protections for religious freedom internationally.
Read more here đ
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đ¨ To the attention of the international community: Â
TOMORROW, 41 women & girls in Turkeyâstudents, teachers, mothersâface sentencing of up to 15 years for peaceful religious activity.
Their âcrimesâ?â¨đ Qurâan studyâ¨đ Group prayerâ¨đ¤ Hosting faith-based gatherings
This is not justiceâitâs persecution.
We urge the complete acquittal of all 41 women and girls on trial in Istanbul, Turkey, whose peaceful religious practices have been wrongfully criminalized. Â
Nearly 400+ faith leaders, NGOs & academics have signed a multi-faith letter calling on @StateDept @SecRubio @StateIRF @USCIRF to:â¨â
Urge full acquittalâ¨â
Condemn misuse of anti-terror lawsâ¨â
Support international monitoring
đ Read & share the letter:â¨đ irfroundtable.org/advocacy/tâŚ
đď¸ The world must not stay silent on July 18.
#FoRB #FaithUchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #GirlsTrial #Turkey #TĂźrkiyeâ¨@LantosFndn @ADFIntl @articleeighteen @RFInstitute @washingtonpost @nytimes
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đ¨ UPDATE: Todayâs âGirlsâ Trialâ hearing in Turkey took a shocking turn. Final verdict delayed. Judges swapped. Procedural chaos.
Details in the thread âŹď¸
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Full Update on the âGirlsâ Trialâ in Turkey â July 18, 2025:
Todayâs hearing was expected to conclude with a final verdict, but was derailed when the presiding judge abruptly withdrew. A substitute and external judge were hastily appointed, prompting strong objections from defense attorneys over serious procedural violations. Most lawyers refused to present final defenses under these conditions, and many defendants followed suit. Meanwhile, the prosecutor repeatedly left and re-entered the courtroomâviolating protocol and further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings.
These 41 womenâon trial for peaceful religious acts like Qurâan study, prayer, and hosting faith gatheringsâmust now wait until Sept 18â19 for a possible verdict.
Weâre especially grateful to @rebecca_cataldi (@ICRD_NGO) and @AndreaJilBarron (@TASSCintl) for attending the hearing in Istanbul to monitor the trial and stand in solidarity.
Nearly 400 faith leaders, NGOs, and scholars have signed a multi-faith letter calling for full acquittal, condemnation of Turkeyâs misuse of anti-terror laws, and international monitoring. Global attention and sustained pressure are more vital than ever.
đ irfroundtable.org/advocacy/tâŚ
We urge @StateDept @SenRubioPress @StateIRF @USCIRF to stay engaged and continue to speak out.
#FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #GirlsTrial #Turkey #TĂźrkiye
#KÄązĂocuklarÄąDavasÄą
@LantosFndn @ADFIntl @articleeighteen @RFInstitute @washingtonpost @nytimes
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face rampant persecution for simply acknowledging the name of Jesus.
I just introduced a resolution with Senator @HawleyMO condemning this violence. Read all about it in the @realDailyWire âŹď¸
dailywire.com/news/exclusiveâŚ
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IRF Secretariat retweeted
đ¨ This is a grave human rights violation.
41 women and girls in Turkey are facing up to 15 years in prison for peaceful acts of faith â studying the Qurâan, praying, and hosting spiritual gatherings.
As documented by the U.S. State Department, USCIRF, and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, Turkey has repeatedly weaponized its anti-terror laws to target dissent and religious expression.
We stand with @IrfSecretariat and the hundreds of faith leaders, NGOs, and academics who have raised their voices against this injustice. We strongly urge the full and immediate acquittal of these women and girls, and call on the international community to condemn the Turkish governmentâs systematic criminalization of religious activity and push for independent monitoring and accountability.
đ˘ Read the open letter signed by 400+ faith leaders, NGOs & academics
đ irfroundtable.org/advocacy/tâŚ
đ Amplify the call by sharing the tweet below
#Turkey #Turkish #Erdogan #HizmetMovement #GirlsCase #HumanRightsViolations @HouseForeign @SenateForeign @TLHumanRights @ECHR_CEDH @StateDept @USCIRF
đ¨ To the attention of the international community: Â
TOMORROW, 41 women & girls in Turkeyâstudents, teachers, mothersâface sentencing of up to 15 years for peaceful religious activity.
Their âcrimesâ?â¨đ Qurâan studyâ¨đ Group prayerâ¨đ¤ Hosting faith-based gatherings
This is not justiceâitâs persecution.
We urge the complete acquittal of all 41 women and girls on trial in Istanbul, Turkey, whose peaceful religious practices have been wrongfully criminalized. Â
Nearly 400+ faith leaders, NGOs & academics have signed a multi-faith letter calling on @StateDept @SecRubio @StateIRF @USCIRF to:â¨â
Urge full acquittalâ¨â
Condemn misuse of anti-terror lawsâ¨â
Support international monitoring
đ Read & share the letter:â¨đ irfroundtable.org/advocacy/tâŚ
đď¸ The world must not stay silent on July 18.
#FoRB #FaithUchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #GirlsTrial #Turkey #TĂźrkiyeâ¨@LantosFndn @ADFIntl @articleeighteen @RFInstitute @washingtonpost @nytimes
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