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Bilirakis Named Co-Chair of Religious Freedom Caucus

GusBillirakis|thCongressionalDistrict|Politics

The International Religious Freedom Caucus is a bipartisan group of almost 60 members of the U.S. Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Tarpon Springs, has been named the co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus.

Bilirakis said he was chosen to spearhead the group along with Democrat Juan Vargas because he is a well-established champion for human rights with a lengthy history of advocating for persons of all faiths to be able to freely worship.

“Freedom of religion is one of the most basic human rights and it is regularly denied to millions of people around the globe, sometimes in the most horrific and violent manner possible-even by those who claim to be our allies. We cannot, in good conscience, sit by silently and allow these atrocities to occur. This caucus does important work to educate our country’s leaders about the oppression that occurs and to unite efforts to combat those injustices. I am proud to be named co-chair, and look forward to continuing to lead the charge against religious persecution,” Bilirakis said.

Founded in 2006, the IRF Caucus seeks to keep members of Congress informed about religious freedom issues and in contact with Non-Governmental Organizations working in the field. The Caucus hosts bipartisan monthly briefings to ensure members of Congress, their staff and other stakeholders are kept abreast of developments that are occurring throughout the world as it relates to the protection of religious freedom.

The first IRF Caucus briefing of 2018, Imprisoning the Minds:  How the Lack of Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion and Belief Keeps North Koreans Living in the Dark, will be held Thursday (Jan. 18).

Bilirakis represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes includes all of Pasco and northern parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

For information about Bilirakis, go to bilirakis.house.gov.

Gus Bilirakis | International Religious Freedom Caucus | Politics | Tampabay News

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