The Philadelphia Inquirer -- Pakistan's war on conscience
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
June 9, 2014 | By Thomas J. Reese & Daniel I. Mark
The following op-ed appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on June 8, 2014.
What's New at USCIRF
1/22/15 | Press Releases
1/20/15 | Press Releases
1/15/15 | Factsheets
1/14/15 | Spotlight
1/9/15 | Press Releases
12/22/14 | Press Releases
12/11/14 | Op-Eds
Defending Freedoms Project
In December 2012, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA, launched the Defending Freedoms Project with the aim of supporting human rights and religious freedom throughout the world with a particular focus on prisoners of conscience.
Specifically, Members of Congress “adopt” prisoners of conscience, standing in solidarity with these brave men and women, while committing to advocate publicly for their release.
Click here to find more information on the Defending Freedoms Project.
Top Row: Agnes Uwimana Nkusi – Rwanda , Saeed Abedini – Iran, Father Nguyen Van Ly – Vietnam
Middle Row: Gao Zhisheng – China, Nabeel Rajab – Bahrain
Bottom Row: Mahvash Sabet – Iran, Asia Bibi – Pakistan, Dawit Issac – Eritrea.
USCIRF's 2014 Annual Report
USCIRF Issues its 2014 Annual Report
15th Anniversary Retrospective: Renewing the Commitment
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) created to monitor religious freedom abuses abroad, today released its 2014 Annual Report, and recommended that the State Department add eight more nations to its list of “countries of particular concern,” defined under law as countries where particularly severe violations of religious freedom are tolerated or perpetrated: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.
USCIRF also recommended that the following eight countries be re-designated as “countries of particular concern,” or CPCs: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.
Spotlight
Many countries around the world have laws that punish expression deemed blasphemous, defamatory of religion, or contemptuous or insulting to religion or religious symbols, figures, or feelings. The application of these laws has resulted in individuals being jailed for merely expressing a different religious belief or being falsely accused.
In January 2015, USCIRF issued a press release, USCIRF Statement on flogging of Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi. From the press release:
“Raif Badawi was the victim of a cruel and barbaric act carried out by the Saudi justice system – unfortunately, business as usual in the Kingdom. And for nothing more than creating an online forum for diverse views to be expressed freely.”
Social Media
The Religious Violence Project
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has launched the Religious Violence Project to highlight violations of religious freedom abroad. Learn more here.
August 2014 Factsheet: Violence Towards Religious Communities in Pakistan
USCIRF Staff Perspectives
- Pakistan Leads the World in Blasphemy Prisoners, by Knox Thames and Elizabeth Cassidy for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs - March 27, 2014
For more persectives, click here.
Georgetown Journal of International Affairs -- Supporting Religious Freedom Abroad
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
May 30, 2014 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs on May 30, 2014.
Testimony of USCIRF Chairman Dr. Robert P. George on Protecting Religious Freedom: U.S. Efforts to Hold Accountable Countries of Particular Concern
USCIRF Chairman Dr. Robert P. George testified on Thursday, May 22 before before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at a hearing entitled "Protecting Religious Freedom: U.S. Efforts to Hold Accountable Countries of Particular Concern.”
Statement on Pope’s Visit to Holy Land
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2014 | USCIRF
Turkey: Statement on Hagia Sophia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2014 | USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) finds misguided a recent bill introduced in Turkey’s parliament that would change the status of the historic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum to a mosque. USCIRF urges Prime Minister Erdoğan publicly to reject the bill and affirm that Hagia Sophia’s current status will be maintained.
President Obama Announces Appointments to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC – President Barack Obama on May 14, 2014 announced his intent to appoint Father Thomas J. Reese and reappoint Eric P. Schwartz to serve on the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom.
The Wall Street Journal -- Iran's Forgotten Prisoners of Conscience
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
May 20, 2014 | By Robert P. George & Katrina Lantos Swett
USCIRF Strongly Condemns Apostasy Prosecution of Sudanese Woman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2014 | USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the death sentence against Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Sudanese Christian woman accused of apostasy. Ibrahim was sentenced to death by hanging on May 15 after she refused to recant her faith. She also was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery.
USCIRF Commissioners Appointed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on May 9 appointed Dr. Daniel I. Mark and re-appointed Dr. Robert P. George to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Dr. Mark will assume the Commission seat being vacated by Elliott Abrams, whose term expires May 14. Speaker Boehner first appointed Dr. George in 2012.
The Christian Science Monitor -- How to loosen Boko Haram’s hold on Nigeria
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
May 9, 2014 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser
The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on May 8, 2014.
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About the Commission
Who We Are
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, the first of its kind in the world, that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
What We're About
Inherent in religious freedom is the right to think as we please, believe or not believe as our conscience leads, and live out our beliefs openly, peacefully, and without fear.
We are about freedom…
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