WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular Concern Designation 10 Years After its Removal.

Because of its “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom, Vietnam had been designated a “country of particular concern” (or CPC) by the State Department from 2004 until 2006, when, as a result of U.S. diplomatic negotiations, Vietnam promised to improve religious freedom.

This new report examines the history and efficacy of Vietnam’s CPC designation and the implication on religious freedom in Vietnam 10 years after the State Department removed Vietnam as a “country of particular concern.”  

“Ten years after the State Department’s removal of Vietnam as a CPC, religious freedom conditions in the country are at a pivotal moment.  While these conditions have improved in some instances, severe religious violations continue that are inconsistent with international standards,” said USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. “Although the Vietnamese government sought to address these concerns in the recently passed law on religion and belief, this measure is imperfect and disadvantages many religious communities. If Vietnam does not implement religious freedom reforms that are consistent with international standards, USCIRF will continue to call for its designation as a country of particular concern.”

Religious freedom conditions in many parts of Vietnam continue to deteriorate in some areas, notwithstanding that many individuals and communities freely practice their faith. In some areas, local authorities harass and discriminate against religious organizations that the government does not recognize. In addition, religious groups across Vietnam fear that the government will evict them from or demolish their properties. USCIRF has recommended CPC designation for Vietnam every year since 2002.

To view the report in Vietnamese, please click here. For more information on religious freedom conditions in Vietnam, please see USCIRF’s Vietnam chapter in the 2016 Annual Report (in English and Vietnamese), and USCIRF’s recent press release VIETNAM: At a Crossroads, 10 Years after CPC Designation Removed

To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-523-3258.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report, Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India, examines India’s constitution and national and state laws that violate the religious freedom of both minority communities and Hindu Dalits. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sponsored this report, which Dr. Iqtidar Karamat Cheema wrote. Dr. Cheema is the Director of the Institute for Leadership and Community Development, based in England. 

“India is a religiously diverse and democratic society with a constitution that provides legal equality for its citizens irrespective of their religion and prohibits religion-based discrimination,” said USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. “However, the reality is far different.  In fact, India’s pluralistic tradition faces serious challenges in a number of its states.  During the past few years, religious tolerance has deteriorated and religious freedom violations have increased in some areas of India. To reverse this negative trajectory, the Indian and state governments must align theirs laws with both the country’s constitutional commitments and international human rights standards.”

The study highlights opportunities for the Indian government to revise laws so that they would align with the country’s constitution and international human rights standards. The study also makes recommendations to the U.S. government on ways to promote religious freedom in India.

For more information, please see USCIRF’s chapter on India in its 2016 Annual Report.

To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-523-3258.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. government to continue its efforts to resettle refugees fleeing conflict and persecution. 

For more than 30 years, the United States has resettled refugees from around the world, admitting in recent years about 70,000 annually, and the Obama Administration committed to admitting 110,000 in the current fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2017.  A January 27, 2017 executive order, however, suspended refugee resettlement for 120 days and suspended indefinitely the resettlement of Syrians. The order also capped this fiscal year’s resettlement, when it resumes, at 50,000. USCIRF recommends the President rescind the order and address the question of refugees in a judicious and efficacious way.

A federal district court ruling on February 3, 2017 stayed the executive order. The Trump Administration is appealing this ruling.   

“With an unprecedented number of refugees worldwide, and more displaced every day, this is not the time to stop U.S. resettlement or halve the number resettled this year,” said USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J.  “Refugees fleeing religious persecution and terror are not our enemies.  Resettlement is an essential way for the United States to aid and protect those fleeing persecution and terror.”

The executive order allows for case-by-case exceptions during the 120-day suspension, including for religious minorities facing religious persecution. However, because the executive order bars from entry nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, it is unclear whether religious minorities from those nations can be considered.  

The order also directs that the resumed refugee program prioritize religious persecution claims, “provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual's country of nationality.” However, Syrian religious minorities would be ineligible because their resettlement is indefinitely banned. The executive order also does not take into account the fact that members of religious majorities can suffer severe persecution on the basis of their religion or belief (as is the case for groups including Iraqi Shi’a Muslims—whom the U.S. government has determined are facing genocide at the hands of ISIL—dissenting Sunni Muslims in Syria, or dissenting Shi’a Muslims in Iran).  

“The United States should consider as refugees all those who are persecuted based on their religious beliefs or affiliation, with prioritization based on vulnerability and the severity of persecution,” said Chair Reese.

To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-523-3258