Despite sanctions and repeated condemnation against the Burmese military, the ruling junta continues to unleash brutal attacks against its own people, including religious minorities such as Muslim-majority Rohingya and Christian-majority Chin, Kachin, and Karen communities. Several global efforts to hold the Burmese military accountable through a variety of international legal mechanisms are now underway.

On this episode of the USCIRF Spotlight podcast, Commissioner Stephen Schneck speaks with Tom Andrews, former Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, as well as Arsalan Suleman, a partner at Foley Hoag’s International Litigation and Arbitration Practice. They focus their discussion on the ongoing case in the International Court of Justice which prosecutes the Burmese government’s role in the Rohingya genocide.

FoRB Conditions in Uzbekistan Continue to Backslide

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Uzbekistan: 

Uzbekistan Country Update – Ten years after Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed presidency of Uzbekistan, he has reversed early positive reforms to the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) landscape. This publication assesses Uzbekistan’s negative religious freedom trajectory by summarizing its backsliding over the past decade and highlighting the damaging impact of its legal framework and policies on religious communities.  

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State place Uzbekistan on its “Special Watch List,” or SWL, for engaging in systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.

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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].

Tajik President Denies Religious Freedom as He Strives for Total Control

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

Tajikistan Country Update - Tajik President Emomali Rahmon’s authoritarian government regularly commits particularly severe violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), restricting nearly all aspects of religious life to mute nonstate religious influences and strengthen its control over the country. This report outlines concerning religious freedom conditions in Tajikistan, including assessing the government’s ongoing efforts to control Tajik religious life. 

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State redesignate Tajikistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. 

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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].