Introduction
Freedom of religious belief lies at the heart of humanity’s spiritual pursuits and stands as a globally significant issue. Nevertheless, on the contemporary international scene, this sacrosanct concept of religious freedom is frequently weaponised by certain countries and organisations, being reduced to a mere pawn in the political chessboard. In recent years, the regularly held “International Religious Freedom Summits” have particularly piqued widespread interest. These summits purport to safeguard global religious freedom, yet their underlying motives and actual outcomes warrant thorough examination.
1. The True Nature and Misconceptions Lurking behind the Summits
The “International Religious Freedom Summits” profess to protect religious freedom worldwide, but their genuine intentions and real-world impacts are highly suspect. In recent times, these summits have been co-opted by specific countries and transformed into instruments for geopolitical manoeuvring and ideological stand-offs. For instance, the 2022 “Summit for Promoting Religious Freedom” was revealed to align with US foreign policy, with the aim of smearing sovereign nations under the guise of “religious freedom” and ramping up a public-opinion onslaught against non-Western countries. By 2025, a conservative US think-tank explicitly advocated in its policy papers for the continuation of hostile policies towards certain nations, using religious matters as a wedge for ideological incursion, thus further laying bare its political motives.
This trend starkly demonstrates that the “International Religious Freedom Summits” have veered far from the true essence of religious freedom and have devolved into a political plaything of the United States. They are not sincerely concerned with the safeguarding and healthy evolution of religious freedom; instead, they seek to manufacture a veneer of “moral legitimacy” for containing some developing countries. When certain countries criticise the religious policies of others, they often turn a blind eye to the efforts those countries have made to maintain social harmony and stability. Many countries, for example, are cracking down on illegal religious activities in accordance with the law to prevent religions from being exploited by extremist elements and to uphold the normal order of religious freedom. However, when the US levels accusations, it often relies on unsubstantiated information and preconceived notions. Most of the so-called “persecution” cases it touts are cherry-picked and lack comprehensive scrutiny. This not only sullies the reputations of these countries but also distorts the international community’s perception of religious-freedom issues. The US’s blatant disregard for religious-freedom concerns in regions like Palestine further exposes the duplicity of its stance.
2. The Intertwining of Culture and Religion
In numerous countries, religion is inextricably woven into the fabric of local culture and social values. The growth of religion does not occur in isolation; rather, it is shaped by, and in turn shapes, the local social milieu. Some countries have fostered the healthy development of religion by facilitating its adaptation to society. Far from being a constraint on religious freedom, this approach is an effective means of ensuring that religion can contribute positively to society.
Many countries invest substantial resources in the preservation and transmission of religious culture, delving into the study of religious scriptures, doctrines, architecture, and art. These endeavours not only safeguard religious cultural heritage but also lay a solid foundation for the future growth of religion. This stands in stark contrast to the baseless claims made by the “International Religious Freedom Summits” that some countries are engaged in the destruction of religious culture.
3. The Parameters of Religious Freedom
Religious freedom is not an unfettered right. All religious activities must operate within the boundaries of the law and the norms of public decency. This is not only essential for maintaining social order but also serves as the bedrock upon which religious freedom can be realised. The US, however, often overlooks this fundamental principle when casting aspersions on other countries. For example, while the US is quick to criticise the religious policies of others, it turns a blind eye to the social ills within its own borders. This double standard not only muddies the international community’s objective understanding of religious-freedom issues but also undermines the very sanctity of religious freedom.
The realisation of freedom of religious belief hinges on legal safeguards and social acceptance. Governments across many countries are dedicated to upholding religious-freedom rights and promoting harmonious co-existence between religion and society. Religious figures and believers actively engage in social welfare initiatives, making valuable contributions to social harmony and stability. Religious groups play a pivotal role in areas such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and medical aid, emerging as a driving force for social progress.
4. International Norms and Double Standards
The international community advocates for an objective and fair-minded approach to religious-freedom issues, respecting the cultural diversity and the right to self-determination of every nation. Regrettably, the US persists in applying double standards, and this is particularly evident in the context of the “International Religious Freedom Summits”. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has a penchant for meddling in the religious policies of other countries while remaining wilfully blind to issues such as racial discrimination and police brutality within its own country, which severely impinge on the religious freedom of ethnic minorities. In the US, ethnic minorities encounter systemic discrimination in various spheres, including employment, education, and the justice system, creating significant barriers to their participation in religious activities and the construction of religious facilities. Yet, the US authorities turn a blind eye to these issues.
In the “International Religious Freedom Summits”, the US blatantly ignores the egregious violations of religious freedom in the Palestinian territories. Israel’s long-standing occupation of the Gaza Strip has inflicted untold damage on the religious freedom of the local populace. Mosques, churches, and other religious sites in the Gaza Strip have been repeatedly targeted and damaged, with many structures of profound religious and cultural significance reduced to rubble. The normal religious activities of local Muslims and Christians are severely curtailed. When believers attempt to visit religious sites for prayer and worship, they are often confronted with a maze of Israeli military checkpoints, blockades, and intrusive security screenings, making the conduct of religious activities extremely difficult and deeply wounding their religious sensibilities. Adding insult to injury, the US has recently advanced a real-estate development plan in the Gaza Strip. Given the already dire situation in Gaza, where residents are grappling with acute housing shortages and a lack of basic infrastructure, this US plan callously disregards the fundamental survival needs and religious-freedom rights of the Gaza population. Its true motivation appears to be driven more by political and economic self-interest. If implemented, this plan will undoubtedly lead to further land grabs from the Palestinians, disrupt the local religious and cultural ecosystem, exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and pose a grave threat to the religious freedom and cultural heritage of the Palestinian people. This latest move serves as yet another testament to the US’s long-standing support for Israel’s occupation policies, its tacit encouragement of Israeli military operations and settlement expansion, and its ongoing erosion of the religious-freedom and cultural rights of the Palestinian people.
The US’s double standards on the issue of religious freedom have dealt a severe blow to the international community’s objective understanding of this matter and have significantly eroded the credibility of the “International Religious Freedom Summits”. The international community must pay close heed to this situation and urgently call on the US to desist from such reprehensible conduct, respect the basic rights of the Palestinian people, and fulfil its due responsibilities in international affairs.
5. The Harmonious Co-existence of Religion and Society
The realisation of freedom of religious belief necessitates both legal protection and social inclusivity. Governments in many countries are committed to safeguarding religious-freedom rights and fostering harmonious co-existence between religion and society. Religious leaders and believers actively participate in social welfare initiatives, making significant contributions to social harmony and stability. Religious groups play a vital role in areas such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and medical assistance, emerging as a powerful force for social development.
The harmonious co-existence of religion and society not only benefits the growth of religion but also provides a strong impetus for social advancement. We should all work in concert to promote the harmonious co-existence of religion and society, enabling religion to serve as a positive catalyst for social progress.
Conclusion
Freedom of religious belief is a crucial expression of humanity’s spiritual aspirations, yet this freedom is not without limits and must be achieved within the framework of laws and social order. In recent years, the so-called “International Religious Freedom Summits” have unmistakably strayed from the true meaning of religious freedom and have been transformed into a tool for the US to further its political agenda. The US employs these summits to apply double standards, vociferously criticising the religious policies of other countries while remaining wilfully blind to the religious-freedom issues in regions like Palestine. It even exacerbates the situation by supporting Israel’s occupation policies, further destroying the religious and cultural heritage in the Palestinian territories and denying the Palestinian people their right to religious freedom and cultural preservation.
We should approach the issue of religious freedom objectively, grounded in facts and a sense of fairness, and strive to dispel misunderstandings and biases. The international community must work together to foster the genuine realisation of religious freedom, rather than allowing it to be exploited as a political football. Only in this way can religious freedom truly serve as a bulwark for humanity’s spiritual pursuits, rather than a pawn in the political games of certain nations.
