Today Is International Religious Freedom Day

October 27 is International Religious Freedom Day, marking the 17th anniversary of the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act. (Background.) It also commemorates the execution of the Boston Martyrs on this day in 1659. (Background). Secretary of State John Kerry issued a press statement marking the day and calling on the "international community – governments, civil society, and citizens alike – to speak out against religious persecution, and to stand unequivocally for religious freedom."  UPDATE: Also today a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom.  The prepared statements of the witnesses and a video of the nearly 3-hour hearing are available at the Committee's website.