For Your Information

December 20, 2012 | By Katrina Lantos Swett

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has passed a succession of anti-human rights laws curtailing freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Parliament might even pass a proposed blasphemy law that clearly would violate religious freedom. President Obama must speak out.

The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on December 20, 2012. 

This year has featured grim news of serious human rights restrictions imposed by Moscow on Russian society, including religious groups. At their next discussion, President Obama should convey these concerns to Vladimir Putin, reiterating to Russia’s president the need to adhere to universal human rights and religious freedom standards if relations are to progress between our two countries.

For Your Information

December 19, 2012 | By: Mary Ann Glendon and Azizah al-Hibri 

The following commentary appeared in The National Interest on December 18, 2012. 

When most people picture Western Europe, they envision well-established democracies where fundamental freedoms are vigorously protected. For the most part, this portrait is accurate. However, when it comes to religious freedom, the past year and decade have witnessed trends that challenge this image.

For Your Information

December 14, 2012| By Rep. Frank Wolf, Rep. James McGovern, and Katrina Lantos Swett

The following op-ed appeared in Politico on December 14, 2012. 

Gao Zhisheng is one of the most respected human rights lawyers in China. In the course of defending activists and religious minorities and documenting human rights abuses, he has handled key cases, including those of the Falun Gong and Christians in Xinjiang.

Nabeel Rajab is a prominent human rights activist in Bahrain who has called for and participated in peaceful protests against the government.

Along with their leadership in support of human rights, they share something: These courageous individuals have been jailed and denied fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally recognized human rights standards and law.

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. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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.

For Your Information

December 6, 2012| By Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser

The following op-ed appearned in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on December 6, 2012. 

Starting on Saturday evening, Dec. 8, Jews in Pittsburgh and across the world will be lighting Hanukkah menorahs, invoking a story that, while rooted in Jewish history, inspires all who treasure liberty.