124: Nury Turkel

In this interview, John Pinna speaks with Nury Turkel, a former commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), about his life experiences and work in promoting religious freedom globally. Turkel discusses his background as a Uyghur born in a re-education camp in China, his journey to the United States, and his advocacy for religious minorities. He explains the importance of the USCIRF's annual report, detailing how it designates countries of particular concern and special watch list countries based on religious freedom violations. Turkel emphasizes the significance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right and its role in U.S. foreign policy. He also addresses challenges in advocating for religious freedom, including bureaucratic resistance, global events affecting religious communities, and the need for a multifaceted approach to addressing religious persecution. The interview concludes with Turkel suggesting practical steps for advancing religious freedom globally, including working with willing countries, advocating for prisoners of conscience, and building international coalitions.

https://www.nuryturkel.com/