Religious freedom

"We feel deeply for Isaac, Negede, and Paulos, who have suffered harsh conditions for more than half their lives," a church spokesperson told Newsweek.

The men were convicted of being part of "an extremist organization," but church leaders insist they were jailed "for their peaceful Christian worship."

Cesar Gonzales' family promised to keep a lock of his hair uncut if he recovered from meningitis. The Mathis Independent School District, however, claims his long, thin braid is a violation of school dress code.

Few things would better safeguard religious freedom than if American evangelicals regained their leadership position on religious freedom.

"Russian authorities have arrested, fined, or imprisoned members; community property has been seized; and there have been numerous reports of harsh interrogations and allegations of torture," the U.N. noted.

The Church of Scientology is one of a handful of religious groups facing persecution in Russia after being deemed extremist.

Jehovah's Witness Dennis Christensen, a Dane, sentenced by a Russian court for "organizing the activity of an extremist organization."

While Muslims have been the main target of China's crackdown and "Sinification" policies, Christian groups have also faced oppressive policies.

"We're seeing a relapse into a time of history that was marked by...these sort of arcane perspectives on religion and religious leaders," Reverend Johnnie Moore said.

"In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

"The government classifies many religious groups outside its control as 'evil cults,' and subjects members to police harassment, torture, arbitrary detention and imprisonment," Human Rights Watch said.

At least 29 members of the Christian denomination have been arrested on criminal charges in Russia, with 23 remaining in official detention. The others are under house arrest.

A 2013 law criminalizes offenses such as using a religious candle to light a cigarette or playing Pokemon Go in a church.

China has been accused by the U.S. and others of repressing its Uighur Muslim minority, but ISIS has seldom featured Beijing in its propaganda.

Russia's crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses comes as part of a government-backed drive against "foreign" religions.

The raids were conducted by around 150 police officers, who nicknamed their operation "Judgement Day," sources told Newsweek.

"Our laws should reflect the best scientific understanding of the world."

The Golden Lampstand Church was demolished with dynamite less than a month after the only Catholic Church in Zhifang was destroyed.

The Satanic Temple believes that "one's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone," and "beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world."

Tillerson also wants to remove an envoy for the closure of Guantánamo Bay.

Sam Brownback previously barred the use of Sharia law in state courts and withdrew Kansas from the resettlement program for Syrian refugees.

Religious freedom is limited in China, but other religious groups have shunned the Church of Almighty God cult for its violent methods.

Jehovah's Witnesses have now exhausted the legal options regarding their ban within Russia.

The Department of Justice has not released the transcript, which has since been printed on a conservative news site.

Jehovah's Witnesses were effectively banned by Russia's Supreme Court in April.

A crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses in Kazakhstan has followed similar actions against the Christian group in neighboring Russia.

With little fanfare, the House advanced a spending bill that would gut the law keeping churches out of political campaigns.

A ban on Jehovah's Witnesses' activity in Russia was upheld by the country's Supreme Court last month.

The bill's Republican sponsor says the bill "bans no one."

Jehovah's Witnesses are subject to restrictive policies around the globe.