A Troubling Pattern Emerges

During the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., Anila Ali—President and CEO of the American Muslims Multifaith Women Empowerment Council (AMMWEC)—met with Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, the Republican Conference Vice Chair, to discuss a disturbing trend: Muslim advocates for religious freedom are being silenced and persecuted, even by Western institutions.

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma has emerged as one of the most consistent and principled voices for international religious freedom in the United States Senate. Across party lines and multiple administrations, he has treated freedom of belief not as a rhetorical ideal but as a core pillar of American foreign policy. Lankford has been a strong supporter of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), regularly pressing for its reauthorization and effectiveness, and has championed efforts to repeal blasphemy, apostasy, and heresy laws that are routinely abused to persecute religious minorities. His advocacy extends beyond statements: he has worked to integrate religious freedom concerns into U.S. trade negotiations and diplomatic engagement, including with countries such as China, while supporting the designation of Countries of Particular Concern where systematic violations persist.

Lankford’s leadership has been formally recognized, including the 2024 “Hero on the Hill” award from International Christian Concern and the inaugural International Religious Freedom Champion Award. In 2025, alongside Senator Chris Coons, he introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming international religious freedom as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy at a time when attacks on faith communities are rising globally. The resolution urged the State Department to use every available diplomatic and sanctions tool to hold violators accountable and to place religious freedom at the center of foreign policy implementation. As Senator Lankford has stated, “The fundamental right of every person to have a faith, live your faith, change your faith, or have no faith at all must be recognized throughout the world.” His words—and his record—underscore why voices like his matter deeply to those on the frontlines of religious freedom advocacy worldwide.

The conversation centered on shocking allegations from two journalists—one Christian, one Sikh—who reported harassment and intimidation during their U.S. visa interviews at the American Embassy in Islamabad. Both had been invited to attend the IRF Summit. Both had their names dragged through baseless accusations. And both were allegedly told that their associations with Anila Ali and AMMWEC were somehow suspicious.

Who Is Anila Ali?

This is not just any Muslim activist. Anila Ali is the founder of the first-ever Muslim women’s civil rights movement in the United States. AMMWEC, established in the wake of 9/11, has worked tirelessly on countering violent extremism and exposing Muslim Brotherhood proxies in America.

Her credentials are extraordinary. She is the daughter of Qutub-ud-din Aziz, one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, who spent his life protecting minorities and writing for publications like The Christian Science Monitor. Her grandmother founded colleges and universities dedicated to teaching respect for all faiths, especially Christians and Hindus.

A Record of Courage

Anila Ali’s organization has consistently taken stands that put her at risk:

The Visa Harassment Cases

During her meeting with Senator Lankford, Anila Ali and Kashif Mirza—AMMWEC’s volunteer director in Pakistan who is passionate about religious freedom and children’s rights—detailed two deeply concerning cases:

The Deeper Question

What troubles religious freedom advocates is the pattern: Why are AMMWEC and Anila Ali being maligned in these visa interviews? Why are their names being used to intimidate and harass applicants?

Anila Ali’s questions are pointed and valid:

A Family Legacy of Service

Anila Ali’s personal testimony is powerful and deserves to be heard in full:

She continues with passion:

Her personal connection to Christian education is particularly moving:

The Broader Context

This isn’t happening in a vacuum. People like Anila Ali are persecuted precisely because they speak for religious freedom, equal rights for minorities, and interfaith harmony. They confront persecution in all its forms across the world. They confront antisemitism and all sorts of hatred. They speak for moral clarity.

AMMWEC doesn’t just talk—they act. They stand up to Christian persecution in Nigeria. They produce documentaries like “Faith Under Fire” about the Jaranwala tragedy. Through their IRF Roundtable in Pakistan, they actively advocate for religious freedom on the ground.

The American Responsibility

Democratic countries should protect moderate Muslims. This isn’t charity—it’s strategic necessity. When Muslims speak for Western values, when they defend religious freedom, when they fight extremism, they are our natural allies.

As Anila Ali powerfully stated:

She’s right to note the irony:

Conclusion

Senator Lankford’s willingness to meet with Anila Ali and Kashif Mirza, to hear their concerns, and to take seriously these allegations of harassment shows the kind of leadership America needs. Religious freedom isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a human rights issue.

The Muslims who stand up for religious freedom face threats from extremists in their own communities, from authoritarian governments in their homelands, and apparently, from bureaucratic harassment even from democratic institutions. This must stop.

AMMWEC’s work—standing against Hamas, Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and all forms of extremism while defending persecuted Christians and other minorities—is exactly the kind of Muslim advocacy America should be amplifying, not investigating.

If we silence these voices, if we allow them to be harassed and intimidated, we are doing the extremists’ work for them. We are answering the question “Where are the moderate Muslims?” with deafening silence of our own making.

It’s time for a full investigation. It’s time for accountability. And it’s time for America to protect those who share our values—regardless of their faith.