Jul 24, 2025
USCIRF Delegation Traveled to Kazakhstan to Assess Religious Freedom Conditions
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Vicky Hartzler and Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi visited Kazakhstan to assess religious freedom.
“USCIRF welcomes Kazakhstan’s ongoing interest in engaging with the U.S. government, including meeting with our delegation while in-country,” said Chair Vicky Hartzler. "During this trip, we applauded some incremental improvements to their laws but also highlighted severe religious freedom violations which still exist, including registration requirements by the government on houses of worship, the prohibition on the distribution of religious literature, restrictions on religious garb in schools, and the arbitrary application of a broad definition of extremism. Also, we are concerned to hear that government officials restricted the import and distribution of charitable goods, like Operation Christmas Child boxes, into the country.”
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Kazakhstan to be included as a Special Watch List Country under the International Religious Freedom Act. USCIRF urges the Kazakh government to repeal or revise its laws to allow religious freedom to flourish. Barring changes, USCIRF urges the U.S. government to continue raising Kazakhstan’s religious freedom violations and advocate for the release of people imprisoned due to their religious beliefs.
“The Kazakh government’s commitment to dialogue and engagement on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is encouraging. However, the religion law and related legislation continue to severely limit religious activities,” said Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi. “Such significant limitations impact the religious practices of various groups, raising serious concerns about the state of religious freedom in the country.”
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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]
Aug 14
Aug 14th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Freedom of Religion or Belief in Turkey
Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:30 AM-12:00 PM ET
Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Turkey.
USCIRF’s visit to Turkey in September 2024 and subsequent reporting have confirmed that the Turkish government continues to restrict religious freedom through a variety of means, including administrative, educational, and judicial. This hearing assessed these areas of FoRB restrictions and how they impact Turkey’s many religious communities: Alevis, Protestant Christians, Orthodox and Apostolic Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims, secularists, and others. It also considered how the United States can leverage bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to support FoRB for all who call Turkey home.
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Turkey for its Special Watch List (SWL) due to its systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
Witnesses discussed potential next steps to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Turkey and improve conditions for members of the country’s religious minority and majority communities alike.
Opening Remarks
Vicky Hartzler, Chair, USCIRF
Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Panel
- Gus M. Bilirakis, Congressman of the 12th District of Florida
Written Testimony - Ramazan Arkan, Chair of the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey (Protestan Kiliseler Derneği) and Senior Pastor of the Antalya Evangelical Churches
Written Testimony Haydar Baki Dogan, President, Alevi Foundations Federation
Written TestimonySoner Cagaptay, Beyer Family Senior Fellow and Director of the Turkish Research Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Written TestimonyThomas Paul Schirrmacher, President, International Institute for Religious Freedom and the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights
Written Testimony
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].
Jul 21, 2025
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Nigeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:
Nigeria Country Update - This report provides an update on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria. Twelve state governments and the federal government enforce blasphemy laws, prosecuting and imprisoning individuals perceived to have insulted religion. There are currently four Muslims incarcerated under blasphemy laws including two religious leaders. Despite efforts to reduce violence by nonstate actors, the government is often unable to prevent or slow to react to violent attacks by Fulani herders, bandit gangs, and insurgent entities such as JAS/Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. In May 2025, USCIRF held a hearing on religious freedom conditions in Nigeria.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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].