FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2019

Rabbi Sharon A. Kleinbaum Appointed to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC (December 19, 2019) – Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) today announced the appointment of Rabbi Sharon A. Kleinbaum of New York replacing Andy  Khawaja of California to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

“We welcome the appointment of Rabbi Kleinbaum to USCIRF.” said Chair Tony Perkins. “Rabbi Kleinbaum is a widely recognized leader in both faith and politics, which will make her a great asset in the complex environment in which we advocate for communities and individuals around the world who are discriminated against or persecuted for their beliefs.”  

Rabbi Kleinbaum currently serves as spiritual leader of New York City's Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST). She was installed as CBST's first rabbi in 1992 at the height of the AIDS crisis. A prominent advocate for human rights, Rabbi Kleinbaum is currently a Commissioner on New York City's Commission on Human Rights and serves on Mayor de Blasio's Faith Based Advisory Council.

“We’re looking forward to Rabbi Kleinbaum joining the Commission and further amplifying USCIRF’s advocacy for freedom of religion or belief for all,” said Vice Chair Gayle Manchin.   

Rabbi Kleinbaum was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek for several years, as well as one of Newsweek's 150 Women Who Shake the World. She was also named by the Huffington Post as one of the Top 10 Women Religious Leaders and one of the 15 Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders. AM New York named her one of New York City's Most Influential Women for Women's Day and she is a recipient of the Jewish Fund for Justice Woman of Valor Award.

Additionally, Rabbi Kleinbaum has been named one of the country's top 50 Jewish leaders by the Forward and New York Jewish Week, and one of Forward's Sisterhood 50 American Influential Rabbis.

She graduated from Barnard College and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where she was ordained.

Comprised of nine commissioners, USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal body that is principally responsible for reviewing the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and making policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. The President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives appoint USCIRF Commissioners.  

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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] or 202-523-3240.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2019

USCIRF Lauds Bipartisan Congressional Support for Religious Freedom in Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the introduction of the Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act (H.R. 5408), which calls on the President to take into account Russia’s religious freedom violations in Russia-occupied Crimea and Russia-controlled Donbas when determining “country of particular concern” (CPC) designation under the International Religious Freedom Act. The bill also urges the U.S. government to place visa sanctions on Russian officials responsible for these violations, along with their families.

USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins stated, “USCIRF is encouraged to see Members of Congress taking leadership in a bipartisan way to hold Russia accountable for targeting religious communities in Crimea and Donbas. Church and mosque closures, confiscation of property, prosecution of clergy, and harassment and intimidation of religious groups have become commonplace. Russia has targeted Muslim Crimean Tartars in especially brutal ways. We believe this legislation will help draw attention to Russia’s savage attempts to silence religious expression in these regions.”

“USCIRF has been calling for the designation of Russia as a CPC since 2017 and has been reporting on Russian religious freedom violations in Crimea and the controlled territories since 2014,” said Vice Chair Gayle Manchin. “We urge the Trump Administration to move Russia off its Special Watch List for religious freedom violators and to designate it as a CPC, which is warranted given the Russian government’s repressive activities both in Russia and abroad, as in Crimea and the Donbas region.”

USCIRF’s 2019 Annual Report chapter on Russia details the country’s religious freedom abuses against multiple religious communities across the country, in addition to its activities in Ukraine.

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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] or 202-523-3240.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2019

USCIRF Disappointed UN Security Council Did Not Discuss Religious Freedom in North Korea

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expresses disappointment that the United Nations Security Council did not hold a special meeting specifically to address North Korea’s human rights and religious freedom record on International Human Rights Day (December 10) this year. Between 2014-2017, the Security Council had held special meetings on Human Rights Day focused on North Korea. On December 11, the Security Council did hold a meeting focused on North Korea’s missile tests and nuclear program.

“North Korea is one of the darkest countries in the world for religious freedom,” said USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer. “Tens of thousands of Christians and other religious followers have been arrested, tortured, sent to labor camps, or even executed simply for expressing their faith.”

“USCIRF certainly appreciates the Trump administration’s efforts to address the security situation on the Korean peninsula, but such efforts should not come at the expense of focusing on religious freedom,” added USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin. “We urge the administration to support putting North Korea’s human rights and religious freedom record on the Security Council agenda in 2020.”

In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF called upon the administration to incorporate human rights and religious freedom into ongoing negotiations with North Korea and to fill the current vacancy for the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues. In a 2018 Policy Update, USCIRF also urged the North Korean government to permit international human rights monitors unfettered access the country. 

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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] or 202-523-3240.