Jun 6, 2017
Article: US religion monitor welcomes release of Iranian Christian (The Times of Israel - 8/11/2017)
Article: Blasphemy laws worldwide: A report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (Washington Post - 8/10/2017)
Article: Ireland's blasphemy laws least restrictive in the world (Independent Irish News - 8/10/2017)
Article: Russian Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Banning Jehovah's Witnesses (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - 7/17/2017)
Video: Interview with Dwight Bashir, Director of Research and Policy - The U.S. extends Sanctions on Sudan (EWTN Nightly News - 7/14/17)
Article: For Sudan, A Looming Deadline On Possible Lifting of U.S. Sanctions (NPR - 7/8/2017)
Article: An American agency denounces the treatment of Muslims in China (The Economist - 7/7/2017)
Audio: Chairman Daniel Mark interviewed on the Don Kroah Show (Don Kroah Show - 6/15/17) - Note: The interview begins on 13:40.
Article: How ISIS genocide victims still face discrimination in Kurdistan (CRUX - 6/6/2017)
Article: Voices for Religious Freedom: Profile on Vice Chairman Daniel Mak (Villanova Magazine - 6/5/2017), See page 24. Click here to view a PDF version of the article.
Article: Assaults on Religious Freedom 'Worsening' Worldwide, Says U.S. Annual Report (Christian Post - 5/23/2017)
Article: Religious Freedom Group Notes 'Grave Concerns' About Russia (Voice of America - 5/18/2017)
Video: Russia a Country of Particular Concern for Religious Freedom for First Time (Voice of America - 5/17/2017)
Article: U.S. Commission Says Russia, Pakistan Among Worst Violators of Religious Freedom (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - 4/26/2017)
Video: 2017 Annual Report - Commissioner Kristina Arriaga (EWTN - 4/26/2017)
Article: U.S. Monitoring Western Europe Over Anti-Muslim, Anti-Jewish Discrimination (Newsweek - 4/26/2017)
Article: U.S., EU Denounce Russian Ruling Against Jehovah's Witnesses (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - 4/26/2017)
Article: US: Russia's Jehovah's Witnesses Ban Shows 'Paranoia' of Vladimir Putin's Government (Newsweek - 4/21/2017)
Audio: The Intersection of Religious Freedom and Women's Rights - Commissioner Kristina Arriaga (Council on Foreign Relations - 4/13/2017)
Article: US leaders tell persecuted believers: 'You are not alone' (Catholic News Agency - 4/6/2017)
Article: Religious freedoms commission: asylum seekers facing deportation need more protection. (San Antonio Express News - 1/19/2017)
Jun 2, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2017
FIRUZ KAZEMZADEH: One of the First USCIRF Commissioners Dies
USCIRF Expresses Its Deepest Regrets at the Passing of a Founder
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was saddened to learn that on May 17 Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh died. He was a professor emeritus of history at Yale, a distinguished member of the American Baha’i community, and a tireless champion of international religious freedom. In the accompanying picture, Dr. Kazemzadeh is shown (right) at a USCIRF hearing on Sudan in 2000.
Dr. Kazemzadeh was one of the first commissioners appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), having been chosen by then President Bill Clinton in May 1999. The U.S. Congress established the Commission in the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). Dr. Kazemzadeh was a leader of the American Baha’i community serving on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States (the elected Baha’i national governing council) for nearly four decades. In addition, he was a scholar and professor emeritus at Yale University.
USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J., said, on behalf of the Commission, that, “It was leaders such as Dr. Kazemzadeh who helped forge USCIRF into a strong and vibrant voice for religious freedom throughout the world. As we look to IRFA’s 20th anniversary in 2018, we know the debt of gratitude we owe individuals such as Dr. Kazemzadeh. He spoke loudly and continuously about the importance of the freedom of religion or belief and ensured that it was always on the U.S. foreign policy agenda. We have dedicated ourselves to the same cause and will carry on in his spirit and memory.”
In 2001, then U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle reappointed Dr. Kazemzadeh to a second two-year term. He served as a commissioner until 2003 and as Vice Chair from 2001 to 2002. In response to his reappointment, Dr. Kazemzadeh said, “The struggle for religious freedom, like the struggle for the abolition of slavery or the exploitation of child labor will be a long and difficult one, but the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will triumph and the Commission will contribute to their eventual triumph.”
###
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, the first of its kind in the world. USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or John D. Lawrence, Director of Communications ([email protected]/+1-202-786-0611)
May 30, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2017
KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ: New USCIRF Report on Religious Minorities in the KRI
USCIRF recognizes the KRI’s religious freedoms as “comparatively robust” as opposed to its regional neighbors
WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) titled Wilting in the Kurdish Sun: The Hopes and Fears of Religious Minorities in Northern Iraq. This groundbreaking report is the first independent report of its kind to involve in-person interviews with representatives of almost all the religious minority groups in the KRI.
The report notes that “the KRI remains far more welcoming and tolerant to minorities than its regional neighbors” and expresses hope that special effort will be taken to “preserve [the] freedoms and rights” of minorities.
USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. stated: “Since the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria came to power in 2014, it has committed genocide and threatened the very existence of the region’s religious minority communities. These communities, including Yezidis, Christians, Shabaks, and Turkmen, have now fled to the KRI. We praise the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for sheltering and protecting these oppressed groups and urge it to continue to take steps to ensure that these communities realize their rights and fully participate in society.”
This optimism, however, is tempered by research indicating that “troubling issues related to discrimination and even violence targeting ethnic and religious minorities exist, exacerbated by the KRI’s strained resources and security situations.” The deteriorating political and economic condition in the KRI and Iraq, combined with poorly enforced protections for the KRG’s internally-displaced persons (IDPs) communities in the KRI, could put minorities increasingly at risk.
Based on interviews with numerous relevant actors and detailed research, including trips to the region, the authors also found that:
- Kurdish authorities are accused of attempting to “Kurdify” more ethnically diverse parts of the disputed territories. In some instances, groups have reported the destruction of properties and IDPs have been prevented from returning home.
- The Yezidis face discrimination from authorities in Sinjar and report pressure to identify as Kurds.
- Christians have complained of land appropriation by Kurdish landowners and have been prevented from protesting such measures.
Both the full report and a condensed version, titled Executive Summary and Key Findings, may be found at www.USCIRF.gov. Follow USCIRF’s posting about this report on Twitter (@USCIRF/#WiltingInTheSun) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/USCIRF/).
For more information, please see the chapter on Iraq in USCIRF’s 2017 Annual Report. Read the chapter in Arabic or Kurdish.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, the first of its kind in the world. USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or John D. Lawrence, Director of Communications ([email protected]/+1-202-786-0611).