Knox Thames discusses his book, “Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom”
Notre Dame Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies hosted a lecture by Knox Thames, an international human rights lawyer, on his new book, “Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom,” published by the University of Notre Dame Press. Building off his extensive experience, Thames offered strategies to advance religious freedom for all.
Reflecting on his book, Thames shared two profound moments that shaped his understanding of religious persecution. He recalled sitting in a church office in Cairo, watching a man cry after he had been hunted by his government and rejected by his family for converting to Christianity. Thames noted that, despite being "a person of no real importance" by worldly standards, this man’s decision to embrace his faith had transformed his life in profound ways. Thames also recounted meeting a member of the Hazara Shia Muslim community in Pakistan, who sobbed as he shared the horror of losing friends to a suicide bomber. These personal stories underscore the deeply personal nature of religious persecution for Thames, and the demand for lawyers and other human-rights advocates to fight to put an end to it.
Thames stressed the importance of standing with those persecuted for their beliefs, declaring, “The question is, will we help? Will the United States and others stand with them against the storm?” For Thames, the fight to end religious persecution is not only just but also necessary.
The discussion also included short reflections on the book from Erin Corcoran, associate teaching professor and executive director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and Daniel Philpott, professor of political science. Kimberlie Orr of the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic moderated the discussion.
Corcoran emphasized the timeliness and relevance of Thames's work, particularly in the current geopolitical context. “I think this is a really important book, and I think it’s a really timely one now, given the context of the world and our own country,” she said. Corcoran praised how Thames's book not only unpacks the complexities of religious persecution, but also offers a “roadmap for how we can go about addressing it in modern times.”
Philpott's remarks offered a reflection on the broader impact of Thames's work and the ongoing challenges in religious freedom policy. Philpott also reflected on the practical impact of religious freedom policy, asking how success is measured in this field. “How do we measure success in religious freedom policy?” he questioned, acknowledging the difficulty of measuring or directly correlating policy efforts with a reduction in persecution.
During the question and answer session, students raised questions that prompted a larger discussion on the challenges of addressing religious persecution. Third-year law student, Shideya Parrilla, asked how to engage advocates and how advocates themselves might persevere in light of "compassion fatigue," given the sheer number and enormity of ongoing human-rights struggles. Thames acknowledged this challenge, noting that while it can feel overwhelming, it's essential to find a personal connection to the cause.
Nicolás Munsen, a third year law student, appreciated Thames’s approach to such a complex issue as religious freedom. "Though an expert in the complex international dynamics of religious liberty, Thames repeatedly focused our vision on real persons who have suffered religious persecution. I appreciated this, because the point was both clear and important: religious liberty is not about promoting an abstract value; it is about serving our brothers and sisters in need,” Munsen said.
Thames encouraged students, in their future careers, to use their skills for social good, whether through legal advocacy or simply helping individuals navigate complex systems. "Knox Thames's expertise provided practical solutions and inspiring hope in the fight against global religious persecution—principles we are committed to advancing through our work at the Religious Liberty Clinic," Orr said.
Overall, Thames emphasized that while issues surrounding religious persecution are complex, there are many ways to contribute, whether through advocacy, working with non-governmental organizations, or engaging in political efforts, and that the fight against persecution requires long-term commitment and resilience.
Originally published by at religiousliberty.nd.edu on December 18, 2024.