USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett made the following remarks at the announcement of the Defending Freedoms Project on December 6, 2012, a project of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with USCIRF and Amnesty International USA.  The goal of this project is to increase attention to and support for human rights and religious freedom through a focus on prisoners of conscience around the world. Congressional offices will adopt at least one prisoner and work in support of that prisoner’s release, and through this effort, also advocate against the laws and policies that have lead to this person’s detention. Prisoners thus come to symbolize the problematic laws of the country which has detained them. 

Natan Sharansky, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Pastor Youcef Naderkhani are just some of the many people across the globe who have been unjustly imprisoned for their beliefs.  Fortunately, these three men and women of conscience now are free.  We glory in their liberty.  We applaud the lives they’ve lived.  We cherish the work they’ve done to advance the cause of freedom and dignity for all. 

Thank you for that kind introduction.

I want to thank all of you for joining us this evening -- and I especially would like to thank the members of the International Religious Freedom Caucus and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for co-hosting today’s event on the plight of religious minorities in the Middle East.  

I want to thank Mr. Adel Guindy and Coptic Solidarity for giving me the opportunity to speak briefly this afternoon about the status of religious freedom in Egypt and the recommendations our Commission is offering to address this serious situation. 

Since its inception nearly 15 years ago, USCIRF has been deeply engaged on Egypt and for good reason:  

For our entire existence, and indeed, prior to our creation, religious freedom conditions, including those of Egypt’s Coptic population, have been extremely concerning. 

Speaking for all of my USCIRF colleagues, I am delighted to join members of Congress, His Holiness, and our gracious Ahmadiyya hosts here in our nation’s capital.

Soon you will hear His Holiness speak about his vision of peace and freedom among peoples and nations.  This has been the Ahmadiyya message since its  founding in 1889, well over a century ago.

Indeed, when it comes to freedom of religion, there is unmistakable evidence that without freedom, there can be no peace.  Nations which fail to protect the right to religious freedom fail to achieve peace within their own borders.   All too often, they experience hatred and strife, violence and instability.

October 24, 2011

Washington, D.C. - Vice Chair Elizabeth H. Prodromou gave the speech "What USCIRF Learned in Carrying Out Resolution 1631"

Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), on November 16 delivered a speech in Brussels on religious freedom in Turkey, sponsored by the Order of St. Andrew and the Pammakaristos Brotherhood Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the International Archon Religious Freedom Conference.

On November 15, 2010, Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), delivered a speech in Brussels at the Conference on Religious Freedom in Russia, sponsored by Human Rights without Frontiers International, at the European Parliament.

United States Mission to the OSCE

Session 2:  Fundamental Freedoms I
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
Presentation of activities of the ODIHR and other OSCE institutions and field operations to implement priorities and tasks contained in the OSCE decisions and other documents

As prepared for delivery by Felice Gaer, Commissioner,
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
OSCE Review Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2010

Washignton D.C. - Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, gave the following statement at the Save Darfur rally held on January 9, 2010.