Apr 27, 2022
Frederick A. Davie Reappointed as USCIRF Commissioner
Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has reappointed Commissioner Frederick A. Davie to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for an additional two-year term, ending in 2024.
“Commissioner Davie’s insight and knowledge are a valuable asset to USCIRF’s work. His personal commitment to international religious freedom has enhanced our work and contributed to USCIRF’s policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress,” stated USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza. “On behalf of the Commission, we are thrilled that he will be continuing to share his expertise for another two-year term.”
Commissioner Davie was initially appointed to USCIRF by Senator Schumer in June 2020 for a two-year term. During his first term, for example, he advocated for Nigerians Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience project. He participated in virtual USCIRF Conversations on Algeria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and North Korea. Commissioner Davie also joined an episode of USCIRF’s Spotlight Podcast and discussed Why the State Department Should Re-designate Nigeria as a CPC.
He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Racial Equity at Interfaith America, where his oversees the organization’s Black Interfaith Project, the Vote is Sacred program and other interfaith related racial equity initiatives. He is also Senior Strategic Advisor to the President at Union Theological Seminary, where he had served as Executive Vice President for a decade. As Senior Strategic Advisor, he provides counsel on public programming, racial justice and racial equity, and social justice and community engagement. Commissioner Davie is also a Presbyterian minister in the Presbytery of New York City.
“It is an honor to continue to serve on USCIRF,” said USCIRF Commissioner Davie. “USCIRF just published its 2022 Annual Report yesterday, of which I am proud to have taken part. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow commissioners and the USCIRF professional staff to promote freedom of religion or belief abroad.”
USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.
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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].
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: September/28/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Cult
Tan Quicheng
Extra Bio Info:
Tan Quicheng is imprisoned for his religious activity.
In 2019, authorities arrested Tan reportedly for practicing Falun Gong.
On September 28, 2019, the Lishu County Court of Siping City, Jilin, sentenced Tan to seven years in prison for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
On April 30, 2021, the Siping City Intermediate Court rejected Tan's appeal.
Tan has reportedly been tortured while imprisoned for not renouncing his religious activity. The torture has led to a deterioration of Tan's health.
Tan has been previously imprisoned for his religious activity. In 1999, Tan was arrested and later sentenced to one year in prison. In 2001, Tan was arrested again and sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2002 after being declared a recidivist.
Publicly Available Information:
Apr 26, 2022
On April 25, 2022, USCIRF released its 2022 Annual Report, which documents developments in international religious freedom from 2021. The report provides recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad. This year’s report highlights significant regress in countries such as Afghanistan and the Central African Republic (CAR). The report also notes USCIRF recommendations implemented by the U.S. government—including the designation of Russia as a country of particular concern, the imposition of targeted sanctions on religious freedom violators, and genocide determinations for atrocities perpetrated by the Chinese government against Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims and by the Burmese military against Rohingya Muslims.
Today we are joined by USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza to discuss this year’s Annual Report as well as some of her most memorable experiences as a Commissioner as her tenure on the Commission comes to an end.