U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

Rising Anti-Muslim Hatred: FoRB Violations Against Muslims Abroad

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM ET
Virtual

Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary
 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on anti-Muslim hatred and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) violations against Muslims abroad. 

Muslim communities around the world are facing numerous legal restrictions on the right to practice their faith freely. In recent years, Muslims have experienced a rise in threats, especially where foreign governments have tolerated or perpetrated violence against Muslims or enabled environments that endanger Muslim communities. Also, Muslims have faced religious freedom violations, such as harassment, imprisonment, and death, for deviating from the state’s preferred religious interpretation, even in Muslim majority countries. 

Witnesses addressed the scope of challenges facing Muslims abroad, spoke to personal stories of anti-Muslim hatred and religious freedom restrictions contributing to the rise in threats, and identified policy recommendations by which U.S. policy can advance international religious freedom and the protection of FoRB for Muslims.

Opening Remarks

• Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF Chair 
• Asif Mahmood, USCIRF Vice Chair 
  Written Remarks

Congressional Remarks

• Rep. French Hill (R-AR)
  Recorded Remarks

Panel

• Farid Hafez, Senior Research Fellow, The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University; Associate Teaching Professor of International Relations, College of William & Mary
  Written Testimony
• Abdassamad El Yazidi, Chairman, Central Council of Muslims in Germany
  Written Testimony
• Jewher Ilham, Forced Labor Project Manager, Worker Rights Consortium
  Written Testimony
• M. Arsalan Suleman, Partner, International Litigation & Arbitration, Foley Hoag LLP
  Written Testimony
• Tariq Jamil, Islamic Scholar
  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]. 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

The Impact of FoRB Violations on Children

Thursday, April 30, 2026
10:00 AM-11:00 AM ET
Virtual

Hearing Transcript
 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on the impact of violations of the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) on children. 

Too often, perpetrators of religious freedom violations deliberately target girls and boys, knowing that harming children can shatter families and destabilize religious communities. In some countries, children face forced conversions or abductions because of their faith. In others, strict limits on religious education prevent them from learning and living out their beliefs. In the most extreme cases, children are deliberately targeted for genocide or other atrocity crimes as part of efforts to erase the future of an entire religious community. These violations inflict lasting psychological trauma, disrupt the foundation of religious life, and fuel cycles of discrimination and violence, ultimately threatening the survival and identity of the religious communities to which they belong.

Witnesses addressed a range of FoRB violations impacting children, including in countries where children’s FoRB rights are the most restricted and the distinct harm these violations inflict. They also identified policy recommendations to strengthen U.S. efforts to protect FoRB rights of children abroad.

Opening Remarks 

• Vicky Hartzler, Chair, USCIRF
• Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair, USCIRF
  Written Remarks

Panel

• Gyal Lo, Tibet Specialist and Educational Sociologist on China’s Education Policies in Tibet
  Written Testimony
• Vladyslav Havrylov, Global Fellow, Collaborative on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University
  Written Testimony
• Maliha Zia, Director, Legal Aid Society
  Written Testimony
• Mohamad Imran Bin Zohor, Rohingya Activist and Student at University of Washington
  Written Testimony

Additional witnesses may be added

Submitted for the Record

• Yoe Suárez, Cuban journalist
  Written Statement
   

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].