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MARCH 1, 2013| By USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) marked the 2^nd anniversary of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti with a renewed call for the Pakistani government to both bring his killers to justice and stem the rising tide of violent religious extremism that victimizes all Pakistanis.   Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the cabinet, was gunned down in Islamabad on March 2, 2011.  Despite the Pakistani Taliban claiming responsibility for the killing the attackers remain at large and the investigation seemingly has ended.   

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FEBRUARY 28, 2013| By USCIRF

The following article appeared in The Economist on February 28, 2013.

For Katrina Lantos Swett, who chairs one of the two American agencies that are mandated to monitor religious freedom, life is full of pleasant and unpleasant surprises. On a trip to the Middle East a few weeks ago, she had a brusque encounter with a senior member of Egypt’s new administration who adheres to the zealous Salafi reading of Islam. As the daughter of two holocaust survivors, Ms Swett told him of her personal horror over recently unearthed statements by Egypt’s new President Mohamed Morsi, who in 2010 urged Egyptians to “nurse their children and grandchildren” on hatred for Jews and Zionists. 

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FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | By USCIRF

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), today testified before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations on “Anti-Semitism: A Growing Threat to all Faiths.”

Click here to view the full written testimony. 

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February 26, 2013| By USCIRF

USCIRF Chair, Dr. Katrina Lantoss Swett testified on February 26, 2013 before the Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Demonstrations in Tahrir Square: Two Years Later: What Has Changed? 

Click here to view the written testimony.

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January 28, 2013| By USCIRF 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "The trial and conviction of Pastor Abedini represent an outrageous miscarriage of justice and  yet one more damning piece of evidence pointing to the rampant denial of religious freedom and the absence of any semblance of rule of law in Iran, " said Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

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January 16, 2013| By USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- USCIRF today called for the immediate release of Saeed Abedeni, an Iranian-American pastor reportedly awaiting a January 21 trial on trumped-up national security charges that date back to 2000 when he lived in Iran.

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January 11, 2013| By USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly condemns a series of terror attacks that took place on January 10 targeting Pakistani Shi’a Muslims.  The United States must press the Pakistani government to do more to protect their minority Shi’a Muslim community.

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January 8, 2013 | By USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a policy brief, “Russia: Unruly State of Law.”  This policy brief, which analyzes the state of religious freedom and related rights in Russia, reflects USCIRF’s long-standing focus on that country and the findings from the Commission’s latest visit in late September 2012.  

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December 7, 2012 | By USCIRF

The Egyptian Constituent Assembly on November 30 approved a draft constitution that includes problematic provisions limiting freedom of religion or belief for all Egyptians.

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December 3, 2012| By USCIRF

Marton Gyongyosi, a Hungarian politician from the far-right Jobbik party,  on November 26 issued a statement in Parliament urging the government to create a list of Jews who pose a “national security risk.” Gyongyosi serves as the leader of Jobbik, which is the third largest party in the Hungarian parliament with 44 of the 386 seats.  The Hungarian government condemned the remarks.

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November 20, 2012 | By USCIRF

USCIRF today welcomes a Pakistani court’s decision to drop all charges against Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl accused of blasphemy, and applauds the successful efforts of Paul Bhatti, the Adviser on National Harmony to the Pakistani Prime Minister.  The Islamabad High Court reportedly dropped the charges because there were no witnesses who had seen her burning pages of the Qur'an.  The Zardari government now has an opportunity to build on this positive outcome and address the culture of impunity and intolerance that is plaguing Pakistan.