USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious freedom conditions in Afghanistan:

Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan – This report highlights the deterioration of religious freedom conditions in Afghanistan in the two years since the Taliban takeover of the country. Through a series of edicts, decrees, and circular letters, the Taliban have systematically restricted the religious freedom of all Afghans, including those with differing interpretations of Islam, but these restrictions have disproportionately impacted women. This report analyzes the implication of these edicts on Afghan women and religious minorities, including bans on education, employment, and freedom of movement. It also highlights the trends and structural changes put in place by Taliban officials in applying their strict interpretation of Sunni Islam.  

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State designate Afghanistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. In November 2022, the State Department redesignated the Taliban as an Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) for perpetrating particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

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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 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 Releases New Report on Eritrea’s Religious Freedom Violations

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)  released the following new report on religious freedom conditions in Eritrea:

Eritrea Country Update – This report provides an overview of religious freedom conditions in Eritrea and highlights recent developments. The country update evaluates the government of Isaias Afwerki and discusses U.S.-Eritrean diplomatic relations, which generally have been poor in recent years as well the specific religious groups Afwerki has persecuted, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian faiths. The report notes that despite targeted sanctions on Eritrean government agencies and officials by the U.S. government, the Eritrean government continues to hold prisoners based on their religious beliefs and practices under incarceration for decades.

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State redesignate Eritrea as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. In a February 2023 factsheet, USCIRF highlighted religious freedom concerns in Eritrea.

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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 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].