Feb 06

WHEN:

Feb 6th 1:30pm

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 

Standing with the Silenced – Leveraging the Frank Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List

Thursday, February 6, 2025
1:30-3:00 pm ET

Kennedy Caucus Room 
325 Russell Senate Office Building
 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted an in-person event that spotlighted selected persecuted individuals and communities. In far too many places around the world, officials silence individuals through unjust detention, forced renunciations, and even torture simply due to the victim’s religion or belief. 

USCIRF is mandated by the U.S. Congress, through the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended (IRFA), to maintain a list of victims. The Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List currently has more than 2,300 individuals. 

Speakers included both former prisoners of conscience and those who advocate for them. They reflected on their experiences as victims denied religious freedom and highlight the role advocacy can play in supporting victims and survivors. They also discussed ways to elevate religious freedom as a higher priority in U.S. foreign policy and strengthen the United States’ advocacy on behalf of individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of their religion or belief.  

Opening Remarks 

  • Stephen Schneck, Chair, USCIRF 

Remarks from Former Religious Prisoners of Conscience 
Introductory Remarks from Commissioner Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF 

  • Bob Fu - China 

  • Liza Khalil - Ukraine 

  • Kola Alapinni - Nigeria, Legal Representative of Mubarak Bala 

  • Mashal Naseem - Pakistan, daughter of Tahir Ahmad Naseem 

  • Maung Sawyeddollah - Burma 

  • Keyvan Ghareri - Yemen 

  • Negede Teklemariam - Eritrea 

Panel 

Moderated by Commissioner Maureen Ferguson, Commissioner, USCIRF

  • Fernanda San Martín Carrasco, Director, International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFORB)

  • David Burrowes, Adviser to Chair, International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA)

This event 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]. 

 

Dec 31, 2024

USCIRF Releases Report on the Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia

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

The Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia – Central Asian governments’ legislation, including extremism laws, has been influenced by decades of Soviet rule of the region. When the governments of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan enforce extremism laws, they regularly go beyond using the legislation to address legitimate security threats and penalize individuals engaged in peaceful religious activities. While all states have an obligation to protect individuals from extremism-motivated violence and incitement to violence, they also are required to uphold other human rights enshrined under international law. Despite this, each Central Asian state enforces extremism laws in ways that fail to uphold the human right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

USCIRF has documented the abuse of extremism laws in Central Asia to target peaceful religious practices in its Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List and country updates on Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

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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].

Dec 26, 2024

 

USCIRF Welcomes the Acquittal of Rhoda Jatau

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauds the December 19 decision of a court in Bauchi State, Nigeria, to acquit Christian nurse Rhoda Jatau. On May 20, 2022, officials arrested her on allegations of blasphemy after she reportedly shared a message on social media condemning the murder of Christian student Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu.

“USCIRF welcomes the full acquittal of Rhoda Jatau, although she should never have been subjected to this prosecution in the first place. The government detained her for well over a year for simply expressing her opinion,” said USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson.

"Criminal blasphemy laws represent a grave threat to religious freedom and should be repealed wherever they exist, including in Nigeria. All Nigerians should have the right to express their religious beliefs or their lack of belief without fear of arrest or persecution,” said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi.

Five other Nigerians remain imprisoned on blasphemy charges including humanist Mubarak Bala, and Muslims Yahaya Sharif–Aminu, Isma’ila Sani Isah, Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, and Abdulazeez Inyass. In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

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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].

 

 

 

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