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].

USCIRF Releases New Report on Protection of Religious Sites During Armed Conflict

Washington, DC –The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Protection of Religious Sites During Armed Conflict – This report provides an overview of international humanitarian law’s protections for religious sites in conflict zones. The Geneva Conventions and their accompanying Protocols establish that religious sites may not be used for military purposes or targeted for destruction unless the strict conditions articulated in the distinction principle, the proportionality principle, and the precautionary principle are met. This report also documents cases in which parties involved in armed conflicts have targeted religious sites, including during the Burmese civil war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the conflict between the Nigerian government and U.S.-designated Entities of Particular Concern, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Sudanese civil war. In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF documented attacks against religious sites in armed conflict zones.

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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

USCIRF Highlights Religious Freedom Violations in Eritrea Amidst Two Decades of Pastors’ Imprisonment

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the Biden administration to bring greater attention to religious freedom violations in Eritrea. This month and next mark the 20th anniversary of the arrests and imprisonment of three pastors in Eritrea who have been held under atrocious conditions. Meanwhile, hundreds are currently detained due to their religion or belief.  

“Two entire decades have passed since the Eritrean government arrested Pastors Haile Nayzgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel. It is unconscionable that these two men, along with Pastor Meron Gebreselasie who was arrested a month later, remain imprisoned under horrible conditions. Bishop Abune Antonios died at age 94 in 2022 while under house arrest. Other Eritrean church leaders should not suffer the same fate,” said USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf. “According to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Eritrean government does not generally take steps to investigate, prosecute, or punish officials who commit human rights abuses. The safety and well-being of religious prisoners of conscience needs to be a priority for the international community. USCIRF urges the U.S. government to press for their immediate release.”

According to reports, prisons in Eritrea are horrifically maintained and those incarcerated endure physical abuse, sexual violence, and torture. As of 2023, Eritrean authorities were holding an estimated 500 Christians as prisoners, including nearly 40 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Last year, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) urged the Eritrean government to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief and to guarantee related freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Furthermore, the UNHRC exhorted the Eritrean government to release all those detained based solely on their religion or belief. In March 2023, the Eritrean government began the process of releasing some prisoners, freeing nine Christian prisoners, most of whom had been incarcerated for nine years including house church pastor Abenet Yemane.

“Religious freedom conditions in Eritrea remain extremely poor. USCIRF was hopeful last year when Eritrean authorities started releasing some of those detained because of their faith or belief. Unfortunately, this effort included only a small number of prisoners,” stated USCIRF Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie. “USCIRF urges the Biden administration to engage with the Eritrean government to end religious persecution of unregistered religious communities and release the remaining religious prisoners. The U.S. government must also urge the Eritrean government to ratify UN conventions related to freedom of religion or belief.”

In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the State Department redesignate Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. The State Department has repeatedly designated Eritrea as a CPC since 2004, most recently in December 2023. In August, USCIRF released a report on religious freedom conditions in Eritrea. USCIRF also released a publication on freedom of religion or belief in the Horn of Africa, as well as a factsheet addressing refugees fleeing religious persecution in various countries including Eritrea.

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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].