That is, after all, what earns the almighty click.
But in their rush to stir the hysteria pot, the suppliers of our information often neglect the hopeful, the life-affirming and the inspirational.
In fact, there were more than a few points of light in the darkness when it came to religious freedom in 2024—so many, in fact, that it was difficult to distill the top ten. Yet here they are, in no particular order:
10. Indiana Muslims Win Settlement in Favor of Religious Rights
In September 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered Hendricks County, Indiana, to pay $295,000 to a Muslim organization for illegally denying the group zoning approval. The DOJ determined that the disapproval was rooted in religious bias—not zoning. Opposition to the development, which included a religious seminary and a school, was peppered with Islamophobic remarks at hearings and on social media. Hendricks County was also ordered to educate its officials and employees about their obligation to guarantee religious freedom.
“Discrimination on the basis of religion has no place in the Crossroads of America,” said US Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana.
9. Victory For Religious Rights for Those Confined in North Carolina
In a major step forward in religious freedom for incarcerated individuals, an agreement between the DOJ and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) was reached in August, empowering inmates to fully observe their chosen faith. In making the announcement, the DOJ declared that “NCDAC is committed to protecting the rights of individuals in custody to participate in group religious worship and access religious diets.” As an example, Jewish prisoners will now be able to receive kosher-for-Passover meals during the eight days of that holiday, and will be able to observe the Seder ritual.
US Attorney Michael Easley said, “Our Constitution protects the religious liberty of all people to exercise their faith. In America, that means even those who are incarcerated can continue to worship and pray. NCDAC’s new policies ensure that believers can maintain their faith and religious practices, even after they enter the jailhouse door.”
8. Victory for Religious Inclusion: 11 Sikhs Elected to House of Commons
On July 4, a record 11 members of parliament of Sikh heritage, the largest group ever of that community, won their elections and took their seats in the House of Commons. The history-making event was met with universal praise from the Sikh community, the world’s fifth-largest religion, with over 25 million adherents. “Sikhs across the world are largely delighted to see more Sikhs—especially dastaar [turban] wearing practicing Sikhs—in UK Parliament,” said Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh.
“A proud moment for the entire Sikh community. 11 Sikh MPs have made it to the UK Parliament… despite being victims of hate campaigns,” wrote Tracking Hate Against Sikhs. “This tremendous victory has bolstered the position of Sikhs in international politics.”
7. Huge Majority of Fortune 500 Companies Now Embrace Religious Diversity
A whopping 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies include religion in their commitment to diversity, according to a report from the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF), a circumstance of inclusion and respect that represents “a tipping point” to RFBF founder Brian Grim. Companies, with increasing frequency, have accommodated faith-based dietary restrictions in cafeterias and now offer days off for non-Christian as well as Christian holy days. Many match employee donations to religious charities and provide chaplain services for staff.
Cedric Rockamore, American Airlines vice president of global people operations, said of his company (which was tied with Accenture as the most faith-friendly Fortune 500 business), “Our purpose is to care for people on life’s journey, including our customers and our 130,000 team members. Our team members, across all faiths and beliefs, help us better understand and serve our customers around the world.”
6. Pope Francis Embraces Interfaith Cooperation on Asia-Pacific Tour
“We are all brothers and sisters. All pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us,” Pope Francis declared in Muslim-majority Indonesia. In an unprecedented embrace of diversity from the Holy See, the Pope stressed the brotherhood of all faiths in stop after stop on his 11-day Asia-Pacific tour, which also included Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. Francis toured a mosque, signed a pact with the Grand Imam and then kissed the Muslim leader’s hand. The Imam returned the gesture, kissing the seated Pope’s head in farewell.
The Pope rattled some conservative elements of the Church who feared his statements implied that Christ is not the lone savior of the world. But in urging the faithful to be courageous and declaring that “All religions are a path to God,” the pontiff was himself exhibiting the courage to embrace cooperation as the great dissolver of misunderstanding across all faiths.
5. UK Lawmakers Move to Strengthen Religious Freedom
A bill making its way through the hoops and hurdles of Parliament would cement the UK’s commitment to international religious freedom. The measure would further define and elevate the existing post of “Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief” to a statutory footing—that is, give it legal standing under the law, making it officially recognized and empowering it to enforce its mandate by compelling witnesses or demanding evidence in relation to issues under its authority.
The bill has wide support on both sides of the aisle. In praising the measure, Miles P.J. Windsor of the Religious Freedom Institute wrote, “Hundreds of millions of people around the world live with the threat of persecution on account of their beliefs. These are the reasons and this is the moment we should overcome our blushes, rediscover our moral backbone on the international stage, and stand up with confidence and determination for a right which should be universally applied. It is vital to recognize that religious freedom is not solely an international foreign policy concern but a matter on which, at home, we are complacent at our great peril.”
4. Boom in Faith-Based University Enrollments Proves Young Adults Aren’t Moving Away From Faith
A straight-up-and-vertical increase in young adults enrolling in faith-based institutions of higher learning has caught many administrators by surprise, albeit a pleasant one. The boom, which has affected Jewish and Christian universities alike, has forced an across-the-board expansion in facilities to accommodate the explosion, causing many experts to rethink the conventional wisdom that young people are turning away from religion.
According to researcher Ryan Burge, 36 percent of Gen Xers are nonreligious, while that figure rises to 42 percent for millennials and Gen Z. But Burge, a former pastor, says the growth of nones—those who affiliate with no religion—is slowing. “We’re seeing a ceiling on the rise of the nones, and I’m seeing it in multiple data sources right now, locking in about 30 percent or so,” he said. “That period of exponential growth is over.”
3. Tennessee Woman Wins Complaint Over Forced Removal of Hijab
In a landmark case, Sophia Johnston, a devout Muslim, won a $100,000 settlement against Rutherford County, Tennessee, law enforcement. Detained for a minor infraction, since dismissed, police told her that if she failed to remove her hijab for a booking photo, she would “remain in jail” until she had done so. In the Muslim faith, requiring a woman to remove her head covering in front of men who are not family members is “humiliating and degrading—akin to requiring a woman to take off her shirt in public,” according to court documents.
In addition to the settlement, Rutherford County law enforcement have revised their booking policy to better accommodate diverse religious beliefs. “I’m extremely grateful,” Ms. Johnston said of the settlement. “It feels like I’m not just a voice for myself, [but] a voice to all religions to let them know that it’s okay to practice religion, to stand up for your rights and hopefully empower others to do the same.”
2. Faith Is More Important Than Ever to Americans: New Study
An exhaustive two-year study by the nonprofit More in Common revealed that 73 percent of Americans consider their faith an important part of their identity. The survey, covering 6,000 Americans representing a wide swath of faith communities as well as those who profess no religious identity, put the lie to the idea that we live in a divided culture with no common ground. The project revealed there is far more that unites us than divides us and soundly debunked three misperceptions: 1) that faith is all politics, 2) that faith is becoming irrelevant in Americans’ lives and 3) that religious Americans are intolerant of other faiths.
The study also revealed, “Despite the erosion of trust in institutions in recent years, faith leaders remain among the most trusted people in their local communities.”
1. Prisoner Swap Reunites Uyghur Muslim and Former USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel With His Mother
For the first time in over 20 years, former US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Nury Turkel was reunited with his mother, Ayshem Mamut. Mamut was released, along with two other Uyghurs—members of a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in China—as part of a larger prisoner swap between the two countries. Ms. Mamut had been detained in China as retaliation for her son’s activism on behalf of Uyghur human rights, becoming a virtual prisoner until her release in time to spend Thanksgiving 2024 with her family in America and meet her grandchildren for the first time.
Turkel posted on social media: “Our prayers have been answered. I am overjoyed to be reunited with my mother here in Washington. Most importantly, she can finally embrace her grandchildren for the first time. Celebrating Thanksgiving together brings indescribable joy, gratitude and a sense of normalcy. It bridges a gap that has weighed on my heart for two decades. America has given me everything—my freedom, my livelihood, and now the joy of seeing my children play with their grandmother. God bless America!”
