Oct 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Releases New Report about Religious Tensions and Fulani Communities in West and Central Africa
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious tensions and Fulani communities in west and central Africa:
West and Central Africa Factsheet – This factsheet explores the role that religion plays in escalating violence committed by and against Fulani communities in west and central Africa. Predominantly Muslim and historically associated with cattle herding and livestock rearing, Fulani communities – one of the largest ethnic groups in the world – stretch across the African continent from Senegal to Sudan and have been both the victims and perpetrators of violence against civilians in many countries in recent years. Although the extent to which religious ideology contributes to driving this violence remains a subject of debate, the trend of increasing violence by and against Fulani groups is clearly aggravating religious tensions in countries such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S State Department designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its ongoing, systematic, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department place the Central African Republic on its Special Watch List (SWL).
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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 threats to 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].
May 17, 2024
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Welcomes Appointments of New Commissioners
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the new appointments of Maureen Ferguson, Vicky Hartzler, and Asif Mahmood. USCIRF also welcomes the reappointments of Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland.
Maureen Ferguson was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She is a Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Conversations with Consequences. She serves on the Advisory Committee for the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Ferguson is on the Advisory Board of The Belmont House, an initiative of Belmont Abbey College that seeks to restore civil society, cultivate religious freedom, and reclaim the public square for the common good. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
Vicky Hartzler was appointed to USCIRF by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA). She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023 representing the Fourth District of Missouri. While in Congress, Hartzler served on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees, as well as the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Defending Freedom Project, she advocated for the release of religious prisoners of conscience in China. Hartzler introduced “The Combatting the Persecution of Christians in China Act” and supported multiple pieces of legislation in support of Uyghur Muslims.
Asif Mahmood was appointed to USCIRF by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). He is a practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith community organizer, and philanthropist. He led the advocacy for many human rights campaigns focused on South Asia. Mahmood was a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and held many roles in presidential campaigns. He is also currently the Chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSSMS) and Board Member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California.
Stephen Schneck was reappointed by President Joseph R. Biden and Eric Ueland was reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In addition to the reappointments, Susie Gelman’s term continues through May 2025. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives. Read the full Commissioner biographies here.
USCIRF thanks for their service the former Commissioners whose terms ended on May 14, 2024: Abraham Cooper, David Curry, Frederick Davie, Mohamed Magid, Nury Turkel, and Frank Wolf.
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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].
May 14, 2024
USCIRF Releases New Report on Protection of Religious Sites During Armed Conflict
Washington, DC –The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Protection of Religious Sites During Armed Conflict – This report provides an overview of international humanitarian law’s protections for religious sites in conflict zones. The Geneva Conventions and their accompanying Protocols establish that religious sites may not be used for military purposes or targeted for destruction unless the strict conditions articulated in the distinction principle, the proportionality principle, and the precautionary principle are met. This report also documents cases in which parties involved in armed conflicts have targeted religious sites, including during the Burmese civil war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the conflict between the Nigerian government and U.S.-designated Entities of Particular Concern, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Sudanese civil war. In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF documented attacks against religious sites in armed conflict zones.
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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].