USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Concerns in the European Union

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious freedom issues in the European Union:

Status of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the European Union – This issue update provides an overview of the status of freedom of religion or belief in the European Union (EU). The EU and many of its member states are active in the promotion of religious freedom abroad, yet some EU countries have nonetheless maintained or implemented laws and policies that restrict the rights of religious minority groups or impact them in a discriminatory manner. Members of religious minority groups have reported feeling targeted and unwelcome in certain EU countries and in some cases, unable to lead a life compatible with both their religion and the laws of the country they reside in. This report outlines some of the most notable examples of such laws and policies, which include: restrictions on religious clothing, ritual slaughter, and “sects,” along with laws that target Muslims, impact Jews, and penalize blasphemy and hate speech. The report also discusses the EU mechanisms that exist to combat religious discrimination throughout the region.

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF also documented several religious freedom concerns throughout Europe including the enforcement and upholding of restrictive laws, physical attacks on religious minorities, and vandalism of places of religious significance.

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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].