Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council (FRC), has been appointed to a position at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal government board that monitors violations of religious rights across the world.
Congressional Records have shown that Perkins was recommended for a position at USCIRF by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). On Tuesday, the senator announced that Perkins will be serving in the commission for two years.
"I am grateful to Majority Leader McConnell for appointing me to this prestigious position. From my post at USCIRF, I look forward to doing all that I can to ensure that our government is the single biggest defender of religious freedom internationally," Perkins said in a statement, according to CBN News.
"It is my hope that through the work of USCIRF, the world will become one step closer to recognizing the vital role religious freedom and the defense of religious minorities play in peace, security and human flourishing," he added.
USCIRF, which was created in 1998 following the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act, is responsible for investigating "the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state, and Congress."
Each year, the commission releases a report of its key findings and recommendations related to religious freedom issues.
Despite leading a Christian organization, Perkins has vowed to defend religious freedom of both Christians and non-Christians.
According to CBN News, Perkins had been instrumental in securing the freedom of Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian who was sentenced to death for leaving Islam. The FRC president has reportedly worked with lawmakers to allow Ibrahim to stay in the U.S. following her release.
Ibrahim had expressed her gratitude to Perkins for his role in securing her release and said that she was "excited" about the conservative leader's new role at USCIRF.
Zuhdi Jasser, president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD), had also commended Perkins for his advocacy in religious freedom.
"Tony is an American patriot who will surely bring to USCIRF a wealth of experience, dedication and passion for international religious freedom issues," said Jasser, who had worked at USCIRF from 2012-2016, according to CBN News.
Perkins, who often serves as a faith adviser to the Trump administration, does not intend to step down from his role as president of the FRC during his term at the commission, according to Religion News Service.
