OPINION:
In the heart of the Middle East, a legal debacle is unfolding that strikes at religious freedom and the core principles of democracy.
I don’t expect that opening sentence to raise many eyebrows since democracy, religious freedom, and the Middle East are strange bedfellows. But what makes this case warrant our attention is that it’s unfolding in Iraq!
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That’s the country we attacked and conquered twice to introduce democracy (the stated reason). Across the two wars, we spent close to $800 billion and spilled the blood of 4,500 US servicemen and women.
After that monumental expense in treasure and blood, the Iraqi court is now demanding that Elvin Joseph, a Christian woman, and her daughters (also Christian), convert to Islam despite their Christian faith and upbringing.
The case is a jarring reminder of the backwardness of the Middle East and the incompatibility of fundamentalist Islam with democracy and freedom.
SEE ALSO: Extremism horror: Christian woman forced to convert to Islam
This case isn’t just about the forced conversion of a family; it’s about the broader implications of a country that dictates religious identity, the very core of our personal identity.
Given the great effort and expense we laid out to bring democracy to Iraq, I would suggest that this case should warrant the attention of the highest levels of the State Department. Given that their track record is not overly impressive in these cases, some pointed attention from members of the legislature would be helpful as well.
Since we give Iraq over $300 billion in aid on a yearly basis, we may have some traction. After all, a good portion of that money is pilfered by their politicians for the purchase of expensive homes and college tuition at the finest schools in the U.S.
Another positive factor is that this case happened in Northern Iraq also known as Kurdistan. Kurdistan’s highest hope is to break free from Iraq and become a sovereign nation. The key to that happening is a green light from the U.S. government. We must leverage that influence to ensure that the fundamental rights we hold dear and spent so much to spread, are upheld in Iraq.
As we reflect on Elvin Joseph’s predicament, we are keenly aware of the tension between respect for a nation’s sovereignty and the universal right to religious freedom and self-determination.
But the U.S. remains the last and greatest champion of democracy and freedom on the planet, and we must not give up that role.
SEE ALSO: How to stop radical secularism from turning America into a dystopian nightmare
This case is a call to action for all who believe in the sanctity of individual rights and the importance of protecting them against the overreach of antiquated laws and dictatorial governments.
It’s also a reminder that the journey toward true democracy is fraught with challenges, but it’s a journey worth taking for the sake of individuals like Elvin Joseph and her children, who seek nothing more than the right to live according to their faith.
The blood and treasure we invested in Iraq were meant to pave the way for a society where freedom, especially religious freedom, would flourish.
The world watches and waits to see if Iraq will rise to meet this challenge.
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Jeff King has served as the President of International Christian Concern (persecution.org) since 2003 and is one of the world’s top experts on religious persecution. He has advocated for the persecuted everywhere, including small and large churches, the State Department, and the halls of Congress. Jeff has testified before the U.S. Congress on religious freedom. He has been interviewed by numerous leading media outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. He is the author of Islam Uncensored, Last Words of the Martyrs and a 30-day devotional The Whisper.
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