Press Releases
5/17/12: New USCIRF Commissioners Appointed
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... Read More
May 10, 2012 | by USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC -The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed grave concern over the Kuwaiti Parliament's approval last week of severe new penalties for blasphemy. The Emir of Kuwait has 30 days to approve these penalties before they would... Read More
May 1, 2012 | by USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC - - The U.S. Congress has appointed the Honorable Sam Gejdenson to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recommended Mr. Gejdenson.
"USCIRF welcomes... Read More
3/28/12: New USCIRF Commissioner Appointed
March 28, 2012 | by USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is pleased to report that the U.S. Congress has appointed Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett as a new Commissioner.
"USCIRF welcomes Dr. Lantos Swett as our newest incoming Commissioner,” said... Read More
3/26/12: Two USCIRF Commissioners Appointed
March 26, 2012 | by USCIRF
The U.S. Congress has appointed two individuals, Dr. Robert P. George and Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, to serve as Commissioners on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Comprised of nine commissioners, USCIRF monitors and advocates for religious... Read More
March 20, 2012 | by USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a federal government commission that monitors global religious freedom, today released its 2012 Annual Report and recommended that the Secretary of State name the following nations "... Read More
March 6, 2012 | by USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) deeply mourns the loss of Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), a longtime advocate of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion, who passed away this morning in Livingston, New Jersey.
"For more than a... Read More
March 1, 2012 | by USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) renews its call for justice for Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's slain Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, and a longtime religious freedom advocate who was assassinated a year ago today by the Pakistani... Read More
February 14, 2012 | by USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed grave concern today for Hamza Kashgari, a 23-year-old blogger in Saudi Arabia who could face apostasy charges that carry the death penalty.
Earlier this month, Kashgari allegedly... Read More
February 13, 2012 | by USCIRF
WHO: USCIRF Commissioners and the relatives of imprisoned Iranian Baha'is, including six Baha'i educators who remain in prison after being convicted and sentenced last year to 4 and 5 year prison terms.
In May 2011, in at least four different cities, Iranian... Read More