Religious freedom conditions in Afghanistan continue to trend negatively amid the country’s ongoing political instability and civil war. Lack of security remains the primary challenge to protecting the freedom of religion or belief in the country. Ongoing attacks by extremist groups, most notably the Taliban and Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), not only threaten Afghanistan’s overall stability but also endanger Shi’a Muslims in particular.

Source: An Afghan Sikh woman mourns for her relatives near the site of an attack in Kabul, RUETERS / Ismail

Recent News

All
Press Releases
Op-Eds
Speeches
Spotlight

USCIRF Calls Attention to Prevalence of Anti-Muslim Hate Around the World

Shortcomings of the State Department’s CPC Designations

USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern

USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Garb and International Human Rights Law

USCIRF Concerned by Pakistan’s Expulsion of Refugees and Attacks Against Ahmadiyya Muslims

View All News

USCIRF Calls Attention to Prevalence of Anti-Muslim Hate Around the World

USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern

USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Garb and International Human Rights Law

USCIRF Concerned by Pakistan’s Expulsion of Refugees and Attacks Against Ahmadiyya Muslims

USCIRF Releases Updated Blasphemy Factsheet and Blasphemy Law Compendium

View Press Releases

Religion News Service: Repression of women points to worsening religious freedom trends abroad

The Hill: A glimmer of hope in bringing accountability to religious freedom violators abroad

The Hill: Biden Must Prioritize the Resettlement of Afghanistan’s Religious Minorities

The Christian Science Monitor -- JFK's call for religious freedom can transform places like Pakistan

CNN World -- Fight Terrorism with Religious Freedom

View Op-Eds

Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy

View Speeches

Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in South Asia

USCIRF Releases 2022 Annual Report with Recommendations for U.S. Policy

Persecuted Christians Around the World

Christians in Extreme Danger in Afghanistan

Hazara Community Threatened in Afghanistan

View Spotlight

Publications

Annual Report
Reports, Briefs, and Factsheets

2023 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

Afghanistan Annual Report Chapters and Translations

View Annual Report Chapters & Translations

Religious Garb Restrictions

November 20, 2023

25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act

October 16, 2023

Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

August 30, 2023

Afghanistan Country Update

August 23, 2022

View Reports, Briefs, and Factsheets

Congressional Testimony

Congressional Testimony
Government Correspondence

Testimony of Vice Chair Maenza on Global Persecution of Christians

July 09, 2019

View Congressional Testimony
Sorry, no results found.
View Government Correspondence