Oct 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Releases New Report about Religious Tensions and Fulani Communities in West and Central Africa
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious tensions and Fulani communities in west and central Africa:
West and Central Africa Factsheet – This factsheet explores the role that religion plays in escalating violence committed by and against Fulani communities in west and central Africa. Predominantly Muslim and historically associated with cattle herding and livestock rearing, Fulani communities – one of the largest ethnic groups in the world – stretch across the African continent from Senegal to Sudan and have been both the victims and perpetrators of violence against civilians in many countries in recent years. Although the extent to which religious ideology contributes to driving this violence remains a subject of debate, the trend of increasing violence by and against Fulani groups is clearly aggravating religious tensions in countries such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S State Department designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its ongoing, systematic, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department place the Central African Republic on its Special Watch List (SWL).
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
Jun 3, 2024
Stephen Schneck Elected as Chair of Bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Eric Ueland as Vice Chair
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today unanimously elected Stephen Schneck as its Chair for 2024-2025. USCIRF Commissioners also unanimously elected Eric Ueland as its Vice Chair.
“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Commission. I will dedicate the next year to leading this team with Vice Chair Ueland to further promote freedom of religion or belief abroad. Vice Chair Ueland has a breadth of experience in the Legislative and Executive branches and is an invaluable member of USCIRF. International religious freedom is not a Republican or Democratic issue, but rather a bipartisan concern where we must all work together,” said USCIRF Chair Schneck. “I want to also thank our previous Chair Abraham Cooper, Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie, and Commissioners David Curry, Mohamed Magid, Nury Turkel, and Frank Wolf, who completed their terms last month. It was a privilege to serve on the Commission with them. I am especially fortunate to have worked alongside Frank Wolf, one of the authors of the International Religious Freedom Act, or IRFA, the law that created USCIRF. Frank Wolf is an inspiration and a role model for standing up against religious persecution around the world.”
Chair Schneck was reappointed to the Commission by President Joseph R. Biden, for a second term, until May 2026. During his time at USCIRF, Chair Schneck has led many meetings hearings, and delegations, including visits to Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. A well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life, he currently serves on the governing boards of both Catholic Climate Covenant and Catholic Mobilizing Network. He previously served the administration of President Barack Obama as a member of the White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Chair Schneck retired from The Catholic University of America in 2018, after more than thirty years as a professor, department chair, and dean. At the university, he was also the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies.
Vice Chair Ueland was reappointed to the Commission by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, for a second term, until May 2026. Vice Chair Ueland is a Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Institution and a member of the Board of Advisors at the Center for Constitutional Liberty at Benedictine College. In 2020-21, he served as the Senior Official (Acting Undersecretary) for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights at the U.S. Department of State, after some time as a Senior Advisor and then Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Previously, he served as the Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources at the State Department, as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and then as the White House Director of Legislative Affairs.
“Together with Chair Schneck and my colleagues, I am eager to continue our shared efforts to call out foreign governments perpetrating or tolerating severe violations of the fundamental, universal right to religious freedom. USCIRF will remain diligent in providing recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief abroad,” stated Vice Chair Ueland. “As the newly elected Chair and Vice Chair, we urge Congress to swiftly pass the USCIRF Reauthorization Act of 2024 so we can continue the vital work of the Commission beyond September 30, 2024.”
USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives. Also serving on the Commission are Maureen Ferguson, Susie Gelman, Vicky Hartzler, and Asif Mahmood. Read the Commissioners’ biographies here.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
May 17, 2024
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Welcomes Appointments of New Commissioners
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the new appointments of Maureen Ferguson, Vicky Hartzler, and Asif Mahmood. USCIRF also welcomes the reappointments of Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland.
Maureen Ferguson was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She is a Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Conversations with Consequences. She serves on the Advisory Committee for the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Ferguson is on the Advisory Board of The Belmont House, an initiative of Belmont Abbey College that seeks to restore civil society, cultivate religious freedom, and reclaim the public square for the common good. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
Vicky Hartzler was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023 representing the Fourth District of Missouri. While in Congress, Hartzler served on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees, as well as the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Defending Freedom Project, she advocated for the release of religious prisoners of conscience in China. Hartzler introduced “The Combatting the Persecution of Christians in China Act” and supported multiple pieces of legislation in support of Uyghur Muslims.
Asif Mahmood was appointed to USCIRF by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). He is a practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith community organizer, and philanthropist. He led the advocacy for many human rights campaigns focused on South Asia. Mahmood was a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and held many roles in presidential campaigns. He is also currently the Chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSSMS) and Board Member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California.
Stephen Schneck was reappointed by President Joseph R. Biden and Eric Ueland was reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In addition to the reappointments, Susie Gelman’s term continues through May 2025. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives. Read the full Commissioner biographies here.
USCIRF thanks for their service the former Commissioners whose terms ended on May 14, 2024: Abraham Cooper, David Curry, Frederick Davie, Mohamed Magid, Nury Turkel, and Frank Wolf.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].