Knox Thames

It’s out! My new book, ENDING PERSECUTION, is now available in hardback and e-reader formats! I hope and pray it inspires fresh perspectives and renewed efforts to fight religious persecution. Get your copy wherever books are sold.

During our briefing on religious freedom, Knox Thames outlined the centrality of religious freedom in American foreign policy and the role it plays in promoting broader freedom and stability abroad.

It was a beautiful day on Capitol Hill to confront a dark anniversary—11 years since ISIS’s attempted genocide against the Yezidi people. Grateful @Free_Yezidi, @SinjarAcademy, & @YazdaOrg for the opportunity to say a few words. We must never forget—and we must continue to help.

Thank you @Georgetown @GUberkleycenter for hosting a timely gathering on sustaining strategic U.S. engagement on religion in foreign affairs. Historic Annapolis provided a perfect setting for these vital conversations. Excited about this new focus on SRE. berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/projects/strat…

Appreciated speaking before the @HelsinkiComm about strategies to defeat religious persecution. Thanks to CSCE Chief of Staff @kyleparkernet, a former colleague and human rights champion, for convening the briefing on Capitol Hill. youtube.com/live/BNuH4yP3k…

Looking forward to speaking tomorrow about my book @HelsinkiComm and strategies to end religious persecution. The briefing is open to the public and will be livestreamed. csce.gov/press-releases…

Our webinar spotlighted religious freedom violations in Cuba and Nicaragua. Advocates with firsthand experience shared their perspectives, offering insight into the current realities and potential ways forward. Read the summary or watch the full recording. pluralisminpractice.substack.com/p/webinar-seri…

Honored that ENDING PERSECUTION received the 2025 Catholic Media Association Book Award for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations. catholicmediaassociation.org/2025-cma-book-…

With Brazil in the news about US tariffs and their domestic politics, I recommend "Brazil: a biography" by @LiliaSchwarcz and Heloisa Starling. I learned a great deal about this huge, complicated country, similar and yet so different from the US. Thanks @dcsandbrook for flagging.

Grateful to @HelsinkiComm for hosting me to discuss ways to end persecution and advance religious freedom globally — a special return for me as a former Commission analyst.

With a pandemic of persecution impacting every faith community somewhere, I was struck by this devotional from the late Anglican priest Oswald Chambers. Entitled "All Noble Things Are Difficult," he challenges Christians to give our utmost. utmost.org/modern-classic… @caapnetwork

Lots of stuff happening in the coming months @caapnetwork! #WeAreCalled

🗣️Check out our upcoming events for the year at the link below, or on our resources page! #CAAPNetwork caapnetwork.org/so/73PVGhwgx?l…

Today, in a meeting, we discussed potential activities. I was reminded of Dr. Earnest Rutherford (30 August 1871 – 19 October 1937), who was known as the father of nuclear physics. He said, “We haven’t the money, so we’ve got to think.” Increasingly true for human rights work.

UK Special Envoy on FoRB @dsnorthnorth delivered a thoughtful address identifying priority countries and the complex barriers to effectively combating religious persecution. Worth a read.

See my latest Substack article -- A Hanseatic League for FoRB open.substack.com/pub/knoxthames…

The relentless attacks on Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan is appalling and unconscionable. I was pleased to contribute a video message for the 75th #JalsaUSA, though I regret not being there in person with my friends. Here is an excerpt. People of goodwill must speak up. @alislam

Nice start to the 4th of July weekend, watching the @Nationals win, followed by fireworks over the Anacostia River.

Appreciate the Diplomat Magazine posting my article on "10 Years of Multilateral Religious Freedom Work," which was launched in Brussels a decade ago. diplomatmagazine.eu/2025/07/03/10-… @DiplomatMagaEU

Enjoyed warm hospitality last night @KAS_USA. I appreciated the comments of Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and former President of the Bundestag, on the future of transatlantic relations. Timely and thought-provoking.

The making of scapegoats: "Jewish, Baha’i leaders detained amid Iranian crackdown on spying" religionnews.com/2025/07/01/jew…