Sam Brownback, former governor of Kansas and now the U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom, said he aims to promote the benefits of religious freedom to makers of policy around the world.
Brownback said there is a "direct correlation" between religious freedom and reducing terrorism and boosting the economy, Politico reported.
The former governor said he would unveil part of his plan Tuesday to go along with the release of report on religious freedom. He aims to track the report on religious freedom more closely, because he said the usual "name-and-shame process" was not working well, the report said.
"Religious freedom is my top priority," Brownback said. "Every religion. Or no religion at all . . . you've got to be dogged about that. This is about protecting the right. It's not about favoritism."
In April, Brownback visited Turkey and Bangladesh, where he heard heartbreaking accounts from Rohingya Muslims who were fleeing a military crackdown by Myanmar's army. That crisis is "the worst I've seen," he said.
"When these things happen, the earth should shake," Brownback said, Politico reported. "There should be substantial consequences."
The former governor was narrowly confirmed in the U.S. Senate when Vice President Mike Pence cast the tiebreaking vote, The New York Times reported in January.
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