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USCIRF Welcomes U.S. House Passage of Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act (H.R. 5408) and urges Senate passage of the bill.

“The Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act (H.R. 5408) is a critical piece of legislation that will help hold Russia accountable for its many religious freedom violations in occupied Ukraine,” USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel stated. “We welcome passage of the bill in the House, and commend Representatives Joe Wilson and Emanuel Cleaver for their effective bipartisan leadership. USCIRF urges swift approval in the Senate and asks the President to sign it.”

Representative Wilson recently spoke about the importance of this bill at USCIRF’s hearing on Religious Freedom in Russia and Central Asia.

“Russia continues to persecute Crimean Tatar Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ukrainian Orthodox, and other religious minorities through its illegal occupation of Ukraine,” added USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer. “The time has come for the Department of State to designate Russia a County of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. H.R. 5408 will help to make that a reality, which is sorely needed by the longsuffering people of occupied Ukraine.”

USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Russia as a CPC in its 2020 Annual Report, and advocated for this action in a recent editorial, as well as through reports on Religious Regulation in Russia and the Global Persecution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The State Department’s next CPC designations are expected before the end of this year.

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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].

The State Department has designated Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern since 2018, but it has not taken any action as a consequence of that designation and has continued to violate freedom of religious belief. USCIRF recently issued a press release concerning the uptick in blasphemy cases against Shia Muslims which in some cases led to mob violence. There have also been a number of targeted killings of Ahmadi’s in Pakistan over the past four months. Why are religious minorities particularly vulnerable to blasphemy laws and violence in Pakistan? Find out in this week's episode!

Featuring:
Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF
Niala Mohammad, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

USCIRF Supports Sanctions on Iran’s Intelligence Minister and Islamic Revolution Mostazafan Foundation

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the announcement that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, who has “arrested and detained members of the Baha’i religion without charges,” and the Islamic Revolution Mostazafan Foundation, which was created to “confiscate and manage property, including that originally belonging to religious minorities such as Baha’is and Jews.”

“I commend the U.S. Treasury for this action, which provides accountability for the Iranian government’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations against Baha’is, Sunnis, Christians, and Jews,” said USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer. “It is imperative that the U.S. government continue to call out these violators and impose consequences for these horrific actions.”

Mahmoud Alavi has served as Iran’s Intelligence Minister since 2013. Since that time, the Intelligence Ministry has arrested Baha’is and Sunnis, and last May closed an Assyrian Christian church in Tabriz. The Islamic Revolution Mostazafan Foundation was founded in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution and confiscated land belonging to Baha’is and Jews. Iran’s government officially endorses a singular interpretation of Ja’afri Shi’a Islam.

“Religious freedom violators in Iran and around the world should know the United States is watching,” said USCIRF chair Gayle Manchin. “We support today’s sanctions announcement and call on the Treasury to continue to name publicly foreign government officials and entities who deny their citizens freedom of religion or belief.”

In its 2020 Annual report, USCIRF recommended Iran for designation as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as it has recommended every year  since 2002. In August 2020, USCIRF released a factsheet on sanctioned religious freedom violators in Iran.

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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].