Religious Discrimination During Crises: A Global Perspective (Archive)
Channel: United States Institute of Peace
Date: 2021-06-14

Political crises often provide motivation and cover for increased persecution of religious minority communities — a pattern underscored yet again by the COVID-19 pandemic. But why do certain communities become targets and not others? Why do governments sometimes support and even initiate this discrimination? Why does this scapegoating lead to widespread violence in some cases?

USIP, the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion and the Keough School of Global Affairs took a closer look at the complex social, political, economic and religious factors that fuel discrimination towards religious minority communities during periods of political uncertainty. Panelists discussed cross-national trends identified through the USAID-USIP Closing the Gap project, as well as recent events in Myanmar and Iraq. They also examined anti-Semitism in a global context. And finally, this conversation considered lessons from the U.S. context and explored policy interventions for reducing tensions and promoting peace. 

Speakers:

Mahan Mirza, opening remarks
Executive Director, Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, University of Notre Dame

Sabrina Dent
Senior Faith Advisor, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Billy Ford
Program Officer, Burma, U.S. Institute of Peace

Knox Thames
Senior Fellow, Institute of Global Engagement 

Jason Klocek, moderator 
Senior Researcher, U.S. Institute of Peace 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/religious-discrimination-during-crises-global-perspective

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. The Institute provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.