As for what this plan of action could potentially consist of, Wright said there are many different aspects that can be addressed, from providing a place of refuge to people fleeing war and terror, to increasing humanitarian assistance.
“Open Doors really focuses on what is happening on the ground; we are at work in over 60 countries around the world. What we see in countries like Iraq, for instance, is that there is always a greater need for humanitarian assistance, but sometimes this assistance isn’t going to vulnerable Christians and other religious minorities. We want to make sure that humanitarian assistance is going to people who need it the most,” she explained.
Speaking about the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, Wright pointed to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, aimed at raising awareness for the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from the town of Chibok in April 2014.
She noted that while first lady Michelle Obama was supportive of the campaign, President Obama did not visit Nigeria, despite calls to do so from Open Doors.
“That is one step a president can take to really solidify our call for increased protection of Christians and other religious minorities,” she added, noting that Obama could urge for the protection of girls and women who are victims of kidnapping in such a visit, or call for the preservation of the Christian community.
(Photo: Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah)
Displaced Iraqi Christians who fled from Islamic State militants in Mosul, pray at a school acting as a refugee camp in Erbil, Iraq, September 6, 2014.
image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png
image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png
Open Door’s World Watch List highlights the many different areas around the world where Christians face persecution for their faith, and Wright said that there are some specific regions where the next president can have a particular impact.
She said that the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, will be very important, and the next president should help in working toward a future “where Christians can begin a path to safety, and a path to a safe place.”
Wright noted that international religious freedom issues in countries like India must also be addressed, sharing hopes that things can still be turned around for the better for people living there.
“It starts with awareness. If we have a president here in the U.S. who is deeply concerned about the plight of persecuted Christians and those of other faith groups, then I think we are going to be starting from the right place in terms of hearing his or her thoughts on persecution, and what can be done,” she added.
People interested in signing the petitions, which were launched last week, can find them on OpenDoorsUSA.org.