USCIRF Alarmed by Regressive Amendments to Kyrgyz Laws

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) decries recent amendments to the religion law and related legislation in Kyrgyzstan. The amendments exacerbate an already burdensome registration process for religious organizations. They also impose the quasi-independent Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kyrgyzstan as the governing body for all Muslims and ban the wearing of face-coverings in public, which could restrict religious garb. By signing the amendments into law, President Sadyr Japarov is expanding regulations that infringe on Kyrgyz citizens’ right to freedom of religion or belief.

“The Kyrgyz government is chipping away at religious freedom and other human rights in the country,” said USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck. “These new amendments indicate a further regression in already-poor religious freedom conditions in Kyrgyzstan, with violations of this fundamental right continuing almost entirely unchecked.”

Over the past few years, USCIRF has documented increasing religious freedom violations in Kyrgyzstan. These include mass inspections and closures or suspensions of independent Islamic institutions, raids on minority religious groups, prison sentences for those opposing official religious policies, and detentions and forced renunciations of faith of individuals from banned but peaceful religious groups.

“If enforced, these amendments will create further obstacles for the Kyrgyz people to practice their faith according to their conscience, especially independent Muslims and members of other disfavored religious groups,” said USCIRF Commissioner Vicky Hartzler. “The U.S. government must not overlook the Kyrgyz government’s increasing religious freedom violations.”  

In its 2024 Annual Report, for the first time, USCIRF recommended Kyrgyzstan for inclusion on the State Department's Special Watch List for the government’s ongoing and systematic violations of religious freedom. In December 2024, USCIRF released an issue update on the abuse of extremism laws in Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan. In November 2024, USCIRF discussed the Kyrgyz government’s treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in an issue update. In October 2023, USCIRF released a country update on the state of religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan.

###

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].

USCIRF Welcomes Secretary Rubio’s Confirmation, Calls for Religious Freedom Designations

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the unanimous bipartisan confirmation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led efforts to advance religious freedom abroad in the United States Senate. Considering outgoing Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken did not make Country of Particular Concern (CPC), Special Watch List (SWL), and Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) designations under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), the Commission also calls on Secretary Rubio to quickly review USCIRF’s 2024 recommendations of countries and entities that engage in or tolerate particularly severe or severe violations of religious freedom as a human right and issue those designations.

“As senator, Secretary Rubio was a champion for international religious freedom,” said USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck. “Not only was he the Senate sponsor of USCIRF’s bipartisan reauthorization in 2024, but he also worked tirelessly to confront global violations of this fundamental human right for people of every belief and everywhere in the world, especially in China, Nicaragua, and Cuba.”

“Unfortunately, former Secretary Blinken failed to make country and entity designations as required by the International Religious Freedom Act,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland. “The responsibility to make designations for 2024 now falls to Secretary Rubio. We look forward to working with him on this and other important international religious freedom policies going forward.”

During his tenure in the Senate, Secretary Rubio led on bipartisan pieces of legislation such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and multiple acts over the years to reauthorize USCIRF. His commitment to addressing human rights made Secretary Rubio a notable leader related to advancing religious freedom abroad.

In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended designations for countries and entities as CPCs, SWLs, and EPCs. Under IRFA, the President is required to make these designations but the responsibility has been delegated to the Secretary of State. Under the law, the designations are required within 90 days of the release of the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report. Then Secretary of State Blinken did not make such designations before the change in Administration on January 20, 2025.

###

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].