August 31, 2012 | Azizah al-Hibri and Robert P. George, Commissioners

For Muslim Americans and other concerned citizens across the nation, news of still more violence against the largely Muslim Rohingya of Burma highlights the plight of one of the world’s most persecuted communities and the need for a global response. The latest bloodshed, coupled with two prior months of riots and murders, has left more than 700 dead and 80,000 homeless. This violence has been compounded by the behavior of the Burmese security forces who, according to major human rights organizations, have participated in killings and rapes as well as mass arrests against the Rohingya.

August 3, 2012 | by USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today issued a new report, “The Religion-State Relationship & the Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief: A Comparative Textual Analysis of the Constitutions of Majority Muslim Countries and Other OIC Members.”  

This study is especially timely given that a number of these countries, including some that top the U.S. foreign policy agenda, currently are redrafting or revising their constitutions.   A constitution’s text is important as both a statement of fundamental law and national aspirations, and a tool for those seeking to enforce its promises.  

The study, which updates a 2005 USCIRF study, analyzes how constitutions of countries belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) treat issues of human rights and religious freedom.  Specifically, it compiles and analyzes the constitutional provisions currently in place regarding the relationship between religion and the state, freedom of religion or belief, and related human rights.  The study focuses on 46 countries with majority Muslim populations and 10 other countries that, while not majority Muslim, are OIC members.   The study finds that these countries, stretching from Europe to Africa through the Middle East and into Asia, encompass a variety of constitutional arrangements addressing the role of Islam and the scope of religious freedom and other related human rights.

To read the full report (with or without appendices), a two-page summary of the report, and a summary of the international standards for constitutional religious freedom protections (in English or Arabic), please click here.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Samantha Schnitzer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-786-0613. 

July 30, 2012 | by USCIRF 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomed the State Department’s issuance of its 2011 International Religious Freedom Report.  

“As always, the State Department does a commendable job of cataloguing the wide-ranging manifestations of religious freedom abuses around the world,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett.  “The next step, and real challenge, is convincing policymakers that prioritizing religious freedom through our bilateral and multilateral relationships is both a moral imperative and serves our national interests.  The other challenge is convincing foreign governments to make needed improvements.  USCIRF looks forward to working with the State Department in this effort to serve our common goal of promoting and protecting freedom of religion and belief globally.”

July 25, 2012 | by USCIRF

 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges an end to all violence and restrictions on peaceful religious activity in China's Xinjiang Uighur [Muslim] Autonomous Region (XUAR).

July 24, 2012 | by USCIRF

 The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourns the shocking death of Oswaldo Paya, a longtime human rights advocate in Cuba, who was killed on Sunday in an automobile accident.  

 The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent the following letter on July 19, 2012:

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

United States Department of State

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

On behalf of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), I wish to express our support for the comments you made during your recent visit to Egypt urging the civilian government to uphold universal values and respect the rights of all Egyptian citizens, including women and religious minorities. There is much political uncertainty ahead in Egypt. It is vital that the U.S. government, at the highest levels, encourage the new Egyptian government to undertake reforms to improve conditions for freedom of religion or belief.

June 7, 2012| by USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, was elected on Wednesday June 6 as Chair of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).  Dr. Swett was appointed to the Commission in March 2012 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and is serving her first term. 

June 4, 2012 | by USCIRF

One year ago tomorrow, June 5, the Government of Sudan in Khartoum launched its current brutal campaign against the Nuban people, bombarding civilians and denying  humanitarian assistance in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, in gross violation of international human rights and humanitarian law and in defiance of continued UN and United States condemnations.

May 25, 2012 | by USCIRF

This month marks two important anniversaries that underscore the continuing deterioration of religious freedom and related human rights in Eritrea: the 2007 house arrest of Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios and the 2002 imposition of onerous registration requirements on all but four officially recognized religious communities.  Since 2002, 2,000-3,000 people have been imprisoned for the peaceful practice of their religious beliefs. President Isaias Afweki has ruled Eritrea since 1993 and his regime is among the most repressive in the world.

“The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns Eritrea’s egregious religious freedom violations and the continued house arrest of Patriarch Antonios, who has been denied medical assistance for his severe diabetes and deteriorating health,” said Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, USCIRF’s Executive Director. “Eritrea should unconditionally release all persons imprisoned for their religious beliefs and abide by international religious freedom standards.”

May 24, 2012 | by USCIRF  

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on May 23, 2012 announced his appointment of Mary Ann Glendon to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

“USCIRF welcomes Mary Ann Glendon,” said Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, Executive Director of USCIRF.  “Given her remarkable depth of knowledge, experience, and commitment, I am confident that she will be a great asset to our Commission and its mandate, helping us advance the cherished right of freedom of religion or belief around the world and support its integration into our country’s foreign policy and national security strategy.”

May 17, 2012 | by USCIRF

WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner each have announced one appointment to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). On May 11, 2012, President Obama announced his appointment of the Reverend William J. Shaw to his second term on USCIRF. President Obama appointed Reverend Shaw on June 2010 to serve his first term.  

On May 15, 2012, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced his appointment of Elliott Abrams to USCIRF. Mr. Abrams was a Commission member for three years beginning in 1999, serving as chair from 2000 to 2001.