The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) recently joined the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and over 150 people representing a diverse group of over 30 interfaith and human rights groups in saluting the ongoing efforts of the Congressional International Religious Freedom Caucus, ANCA said in a press release.

The attendees at the March 31stt Capitol Hill reception praised Caucus founders, Representatives Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), for keeping Congress informed about religious freedom issues and serving as a key networking hub between non-profit advocacy groups and policymakers through briefings on domestic and international religious freedom issues. Participants also welcomed the leadership of incoming Caucus Co-Chair Heather Shuler (D-NC), who will be taking over Rep. Cleaver's responsibilities in the 112th Congress.

In addition to remarks by the Caucus Co-Chairs, the reception featured keynote speeches by Dr. Habib Malek, the son of Charles Malik, the author of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and Farzad Kamalabadi, who shared a moving account of the continued imprisonment of his sister, Fariba Kamalabadi, and repression of the Baha'is in Iran.