Source: www.persecution.org
Date: August 15, 2022
United States (International Christian Concern) – President Biden has announced his latest appointment to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Mohamed Magid, a seasoned international religious freedom advocate, will serve as USCIRF’s newest Commissioner, bringing USCIRF to a full complement of nine Commissioners. USCIRF is the top U.S. federal advisory body responsible for monitoring religious freedom abroad, and Magid’s expertise in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding strategies will provide valuable insight to the Commission.
Since 1999, USCIRF has had more than 50 Commissioners who have served as key advocates in the global advancement of religious freedom. USCIRF is an independent and bipartisan federal government agency responsible for providing policy recommendations to some of the United States’ highest officials, including the President, Secretary of State, and members of Congress. Commissioners play a vital role in helping advance policy initiatives concerning international religious freedom and by furthering the mandate of USCIRF.
USCIRF released a statement at the announcement of Magid’s appointment, stating that it “looked forward to [Magid’s] valuable expertise and insight that his years of experience working on international religious freedom [will bring] to the Commission.” Furthermore, current USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel shared that Magid’s “… breadth and depth of experience on a range of international religious freedom issues [would] be a tremendous asset to USCIRF going forward.”
Magid currently serves as the Executive Religious Director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center in Sterling, Virginia. Magid also serves as a member of several faith-based organizations, including as the Chairman of International Interfaith Peace Corps, the Co-President of Religions for Peace, and as a member of the Muslim Jewish Council. Furthermore, Magid is a Co-Founder of the Multi-faith Neighbors Network, a global grassroots network that builds trust and interfaith relationships between different faith communities.
In response to the initial release of his appointment announced in July, Magid posted on his Facebook page that he was “honored and humbled” by his appointment to the Commission, and that he believes “… it is a divine privilege to work together with others to ensure that every person has the right to freely practice their beliefs.”
Magid’s appointment came just a day before an electrical fire killed more than 40 churchgoers at a local Coptic church in Giza, Egypt. Many Coptic communities face discrimination around the world, such as through the restriction on the construction and renovation of their churches, leaving many at risk to dangerous gathering conditions. We are hopeful that Magid’s experience in interfaith initiatives will equip him to strategically engage in his new role and advocate for the rights of Christians and all religious minorities globally.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray Magid’s experience in interfaith initiatives to equip him to strategically engage in his new role and advocate for the rights of Christians and all religious minorities globally.