"Defenders of religious freedom everywhere will welcome H. Knox Thames's analysis of the many faces of persecution, his inspiring call to action, and most of all his practical, feasible suggestions for deterring and combating the worst violations of human dignity. The author's wealth of experience and passion for his subject illuminate every page." —Mary Ann Glendon, author of In the Courts of Three Popes"Too many people in every corner of the globe are subject to persecution, repression, and even death simply for worshipping the God of their choice—or for their choice not to believe. With great humanity and insight gained from years in government service, H. Knox Thames offers an invaluable examination of this terrible phenomenon and practical solutions for policymakers. Ending Persecution should be on the reading list of anyone who cares about human rights and freedom." —Michael Abramowitz, president, Freedom House"The decades of unparalleled experience behind this accessible and hard-hitting book by H. Knox Thames shines through as he calls for consistency, coalitions, call-outs, and consequences in confronting this 'most personal' human right. His recommendations stretch far and resonate deeply with the observations of the UN mandate on freedom of religion or belief." —Nazila Ghanea, co-author of Freedom of Religion or Belief"Drawing on his significant experience in promoting international religious freedom, H. Knox Thames is perfectly placed to introduce us to some of the persecuted millions of people who daily pay a great price for a freedom we too often take for granted—and he spells out some of the initiatives we can take to end the persecution. Essential reading for all who value liberty, freedom, and human rights." —Lord David Alton, co-author of State Responses to Crimes of Genocide"So many modern, devastating atrocities are hidden from public awareness. 'Out of sight, out of mind' becomes the fate of millions without the courageous intervention of tenacious investigators. In Ending Persecution, H. Knox Thames shines the light of truth on this hidden darkness with the hopes of igniting our passion for justice and our compassion for faithful humanity. It is impossible to read this book without being permanently affected." —Jim Gash, author of Divine Collision"Thames's focus on the fact that the most egregious religious freedom violators are governments is exactly right. On the international stage, governments persecute religious people or are complicit by looking the other way when ethno-religious violence targets religious people. A useful book for students, practitioners, and the interested citizen." —Eric Patterson, co-editor of Just War and Christian Traditions"Ending Persecution by H. Knox Thames is a groundbreaking work that offers fresh insights and innovative strategies to combat the persecution of religious minorities worldwide. This compelling book is a must for anyone committed to promoting religious freedom and human rights on a global scale." —Abid Shamdeen, co-founder & executive director, Nadia's Initiative"Ending Persecution is creatively structured and engagingly written. Every chapter draws the reader in with a diplomatic story that provides a narrative arc for Thames' discussion." —Providence"A fascinating mix of memoir of Thames's government service, policy analysis drawn largely from that experience, and general introduction to the world of international religious-freedom advocacy." —National Review"Only now, after leaving government service in 2021, has Thames offered reflections and lessons from this long service in Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom. It is an indispensable book."" —Religion Unplugged"The book includes stories from Thames' 20 years of government service — in the U.S. State Department, at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and across three presidential administrations — that illustrate dangers and solutions." —Baptist News Global"Thames has brought a deeply personal perspective to his new book, called Ending Persecution. It's a book that defies neat categorization. He has produced a page-turning narrative, a unique behind-the-scenes look at the complex world of international religious freedom advocacy." —Law & Liberty"Ending Persecution is a thoughtful and interesting look into a specific way of engaging it. Hopefully, the book will spark many conversations that culminate in creative approaches to solving the "pandemic of persecution" that so many religiously faithful around the world currently endure." —Public Discourse"University of Notre Dame Press has just published what may well be one of the most important books on freedom of religion or belief in recent years, with the title Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom." —Bitter Winter"By mapping the complex legal, cultural, and political ecosystem in which persecution occurs, Thames enables individual actors, whether in government, academia, the NGO sector, or religious bodies, to find their roles in collaboratively addressing offenses against religious believers." —ChinaSource
