US lawmakers warn of rising global religious attacks
Former USCIRF chairman Stephen Schneck said global religious freedom crisis mirrors democratic decline and the rise of authoritarian regimes
Washington. US lawmakers are raising serious concerns about rising attacks on religious communities around the world. At a joint hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, leaders warned that authoritarian governments and extremist groups are tightening control over faith, while US responses are falling behind.
The hearing was called “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World.” Lawmakers and witnesses said religious freedom is declining fast in many countries. They warned that millions of people now live under strict limits on belief, worship, and speech.
Congressman Christopher Smith opened the hearing with a strong message. He said religious liberty, often called America’s first freedom, is under threat worldwide. He told the panel that billions of people face heavy restrictions on their faith. These limits can lead to prison, torture, and even death.
Smith pointed to the Open Doors 2025 World Watch List. According to the report, more than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution or discrimination because of their beliefs. Smith also said antisemitism is rising sharply. He noted it is not only growing in the Middle East but also across Western democracies, including the United States.
He warned that harsh governments are driving much of this repression. Smith named China, Russia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Belarus, and Cuba. He said these regimes fear religion because it gives people a voice and a sense of moral strength. According to him, dictators are afraid of citizens who can think freely and gather in faith.
Former US ambassador at large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback also spoke at the hearing. He said a new alliance of authoritarian states now sees religion as a direct threat to their power. He explained that faith communities often stand outside government control, which makes dictators uneasy.
Brownback said these regimes will do anything to control people of faith. He urged Congress to stop treating religious freedom as a side issue. Instead, he said it should be seen as a major global security concern. In his view, defending faith rights can weaken authoritarian systems from the inside.
He added that protecting religious freedom is one of the strongest tools the United States has. Brownback said it can help challenge dictators without using force. He argued that moral pressure and clear policies can make a real difference if used properly.
Brownback also accused China of leading this global crackdown. He said Beijing has spent billions of dollars on advanced surveillance technology. This technology, he claimed, is the most sophisticated ever created. He said China has shared it with other authoritarian governments. The goal, he said, is to monitor and control religious groups.
One of the most emotional moments of the hearing came from Grace Jin Drexel. She is the daughter of Chinese pastor Ezra Jin, who is currently detained. Drexel described what she called the largest crackdown on an independent Christian church in China since the Cultural Revolution.
She told lawmakers that on October 10, 2025, Chinese authorities arrested her father along with 27 other pastors and church leaders from Zion Church. Eighteen of them are still in prison today. She said many were taken away in front of their young children.
Drexel asked US leaders to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees. She said the arrests are part of a wider campaign under President Xi Jinping. According to her, the Chinese government wants full control over all religious life.
She explained that churches are being forced to install surveillance cameras. Religious symbols are removed. In some cases, they are replaced with portraits of Communist Party leaders. She said these actions are meant to erase faith and replace it with loyalty to the state.
Former US Commission on International Religious Freedom chairman Stephen Schneck also warned lawmakers about deeper causes behind the crisis. He said the global attack on religion is closely tied to the decline of liberal democracy. As democratic values weaken, he said, authoritarianism fills the space.
Schneck added that religious freedom is often pushed aside in foreign policy decisions. He said it has become too transactional, traded away for short term political or economic goals. He warned that this approach leaves faith communities exposed and weakens America’s moral leadership.
Lawmakers from both parties agreed that the situation is serious. Several said current US tools are not strong enough. They called for better enforcement, clearer priorities, and stronger action against repeat offenders.
The hearing ended with a clear message. Religious freedom is not a small issue. It affects human dignity, security, and global stability. Without stronger action, speakers warned, the crackdown on faith will only grow worse.