FILL THE VACANT POST OF SPECIAL ENVOY FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH CENTRAL ASIA

We urge the President to immediately fill the vacant post of Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. The bipartisan legislation authorizing the creation of this position overwhelmingly passed both Houses of Congress and was ultimately signed into law, by the President, seven months ago.
While ancient faith communities throughout the region have been vulnerable for some time, the current threat against them is particularly acute as evidenced by the Islamic State's targeting of Christians, Yezidis and other religious minorities. A senior State Department official, charged with developing policy approaches to guarantee their survival in the lands they've inhabited for centuries, has never been more needed.