Ji Hyeon-A fled North Korea four times in search of a better life. Three times she was forcibly taken back. A Christian, Ji was detained and tortured by the Ministry of State Security for possessing a small Bible that her mother had given her. She is currently a human rights advocate in South Korea. Ji says no government has the right to control how their citizens believe and pray.
This is part of a series of stories from survivors of religious persecution in recognition of International Religious Freedom Day on October 27.
Religious freedom is a policy priority for the United States, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the State Department’s July ministerial on religious freedom, because it “is a God-given universal right bestowed on all of mankind.”
