Knox Thames

Knox Thames is a human rights lawyer who served in a special envoy role at the State Department during the Obama and Trump administrations, focusing on religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia. His book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom, was published by Notre Dame Press in September 2024.

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Articles by Knox Thames
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a community roundtable at 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a community roundtable at 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Trump’s Religious Freedom Agenda Needs to Extend Beyond Nigeria

Argument
Knox Thames
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (second on the right) attends an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (second on the right) attends an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Is Missing a Chance to Engage the Muslim World

Argument
Arsalan Suleman, Knox Thames
Afghan refugees arrive at Dulles International Airport
Afghan refugees arrive at Dulles International Airport

Throw a Lifeline to the Afghans Left Behind

Argument
Knox Thames
Pakistanis commemorate assassinated governor of Punjab Salman Taseer.
Pakistanis commemorate assassinated governor of Punjab Salman Taseer.

Killing Moderate Pakistan, One Advocate for Tolerance at a Time

Argument
Knox Thames
A young Uighur activist holds up a poster during a demonstration outside the Foreign Office in Berlin before talks between the Chinese and German foreign ministers on Sept. 1.
A young Uighur activist holds up a poster during a demonstration outside the Foreign Office in Berlin before talks between the Chinese and German foreign ministers on Sept. 1.

Why the Persecution of Muslims Should Be on Biden’s Agenda

Elephants in the Room
Knox Thames
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Defending Religion From Itself

Argument
Knox Thames
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By the Numbers: Pakistan’s Perilous Religious Laws

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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Shrinking Religious Freedom in South Asia

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames, Sahar Chaudhry
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Fighting words in Afghanistan

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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From peace to carnage

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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Pakistan’s abysmal religious tolerance score

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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Syria’s fight after the fight

The Middle East Channel
Knox Thames
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The Pakistani Taliban’s “preposterous” ask

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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Why aren’t we encouraging more religious tolerance in Afghanistan?

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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Afghanistan: Mind the God gap

The South Asia Channel
Knox Thames
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