Obama vows to protect religious minorities at home and abroad

US President Barack Obama today vowed to protect religious minorities both at home and abroad, even as a top American official said that Muslims in India and Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan are facing threat.
"Our commitment to religious freedom has fostered unprecedented religious diversity and freedom of religious practice. But these ideals are not self-executing. Rather, they require a sustained commitment by each generation to uphold and preserve them," Obama said as he proclaimed January 16, 2016 as Religious Freedom Day.
This work is crucial, particularly given the recent spike in reports of threats and violence against houses of worship, children and adults simply because of their religious affiliation, said the US President.

Obama made no reference to any country in his speech but said that his administration works to promote religious freedom around the globe.
"We are working with a broad coalition against those who have subjected religious minorities to unspeakable violence and persecution, and we are mobilising religious and civic leaders to defend vulnerable religious communities," he said.
Calling for elimination of improper restrictions that suppress religious practice, he sought to coordinate with governments around the world to promote religious freedom for citizens of every faith.

"All people deserve the fundamental dignity of practicing their faith free from fear, intimidation and violence," Obama said.

"May we remember those who have been persecuted, tortured or murdered for their faith and reject any politics that targets people because of their religion, including any suggestion that our laws, policies, or practices should single out certain faiths for disfavored treatment," he said.
"And as one Nation, let us state clearly and without equivocation that an attack on any faith is an attack on every faith and come together to promote religious freedom for all," Obama said.
Meanwhile in a blog, Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South and Central Asia in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour in the US Department of State, said that Muslims in India and Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan are facing threat.

"The rising tide of restrictions on freedom of religion is a crisis that is emerging worldwide and has disproportionately threatened religious minority groups. This threat touches communities all around the globe, as every faith group is a minority somewhere," wrote Thames.
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Though he is a bit older now, Obama said physically he feels very energetic.
"Physically, I feel probably as good as I've ever felt. And I've got as much energy as I ever did. But what you feel after eight years -- and I think you'd feel this no matter what, but anytime you have a big transition, it gets magnified - is time passes. Your kids grow up. I think they more than anything are making me feel as if, you know, you want to squeeze everything you got every single day out of this thing. Because it passes quick," he said.

Obama said he is attached to only a few things inside the Oval Office.
"The objects in this room-- only a few of 'em I really attach to. I think that I'll always remember the bust of Dr King. I thought having an American here who represented that civic spirit that got me into this office was useful. Over there I've got the original program for the March on Washington that was framed and given to me by a friend," he said.
"You know, I'll remember the view out this window, because this is where we had our-- the playground that we put in when Malia and Sasha came in. Being able every once in awhile to look out the window and see your daughters during the summer, swinging on that swing set, that made the presidency a little bit sweeter," Obama said.

When Sasha and Malia Obama arrived at the White House in 2009, they were age 7 and 10. Their parents -- for the most part - were successful in keeping them out of the limelight, except in the rarest circumstances.
"In the fall, Malia begins at Harvard after a gap year. Sasha is a sophomore at her private school in Washington. This month, the swing set was dismantled and given away," he said.
Obama said after January 20, he will try to get some sleep.
"And do a little puttering. Because I haven't had a lot of chance to reflect and absorb all this. I do not expect to be behind a desk a lot. I look forward to teaching the occasional class, because I was a professor. And I had fun doing it," he said.