Feb 27, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2019

 

 

USCIRF Urges President Trump to Address Religious Freedom Abuses in North Korea


WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today called on President Donald J. Trump to raise the issue of religious freedom violations in North Korea during his upcoming second summit with Kim Jong-un in Vietnam.

“We urge President Trump to seize this important opportunity to again bring attention to the severe violations of religious freedom and other inexcusable human rights perpetrated by the North Korean government,” said Chair Tenzin Dorjee. “USCIRF was encouraged when President Trump raised these issues at last year’s summit. He should do so again, and continue to take every opportunity to raise these concerns until North Koreans are able to exercise religious freedom and other fundamental human rights freely and without fear.”

USCIRF has repeatedly recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate North Korea a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for “systematic, ongoing, egregious” violations of religious freedom. In USCIRF’s most recent policy update, the Commission found that the North Korean government’s approach to religion and belief is among the most repressive in the world. The update stated, “Put simply, freedom of religion or belief does not exist in North Korea…independent believers often face arrest, torture, beatings, and execution.”

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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] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.