U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

USCIRF Conversation: Religious Freedom for Indigenous Communities in Latin America

Wednesday, December 13
11:00am-12:00pm ET
Virtual Event

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual discussion of USCIRF’s report on religious freedom conditions for Indigenous communities in Latin America.

Despite increased international attention to the religious freedom concerns of Indigenous communities and individuals, discrimination, violent attacks, threats, and land seizures persist. In Mexico, drug traffickers have murdered religious leaders working to protect Indigenous communities. In the Colombian and Venezuelan Amazon, drug and human traffickers, paramilitary groups, and guerrillas illegally build roads, landing strips, and clandestine ports on religiously significant ancestral lands. Throughout the region, extractive companies cause serious damage to sacred natural sites. And, within Indigenous communities, those who convert to a religion or belief different from that practiced by the majority may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or violence.

Panelists discussed national, regional, and international legal instruments protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief for Indigenous communities and individuals in Latin America. They also assessed state efforts to protect that right and highlight the threats impacting the religious freedom of Indigenous communities and individuals.  

USCIRF Commissioners Frank Wolf and Mohamed Magid were joined by the authors of the report, Dennis D. Petri, International Director of the International Institute for Religious Freedom, and Teresa Flores, Director of the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America, for this discussion. The event was moderated by USCIRF Researcher Luke Wilson and included Q&A for attendees.

Panelists

• Frank Wolf, Commissioner, USCIRF
• Mohamed Magid, Commissioner, USCIRF
• Dennis D. Petri, International Director, International Institute for Religious Freedom
• Teresa Flores, Director, Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America

Moderator

• Luke Wilson, Researcher, USCIRF

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

Religious Minorities and Governance in Iraq

Thursday, December 7, 2023
10:30 am – 12:00 pm ET
Virtual

Hearing Transcript

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing that examined current conditions in Iraq affecting freedom of religion or belief, under both the Iraqi federal government (IFG) and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The hearing also identified ways the U.S. government can work with the IFG and the KRG to address religious freedom concerns, especially for the country’s vulnerable religious minorities.

Despite the diminished presence of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), religious freedom for all Iraqis remains precarious in the face of recent political instability and religious division; the increasing power of government-affiliated militias and other armed groups; and the continued displacement and political disenfranchisement of vulnerable religious minorities, including those ISIS targeted for genocide in 2014.

Witnesses discussed the status of religious freedom and related official and civil society initiatives throughout Iraq, and made recommendations for how U.S. government policy can support efforts to ensure freedom of religion or belief for all Iraqis.

Opening Remarks

• Abraham Cooper, Chair, USCIRF
  Written Remarks
• Frederick A. Davie, Vice Chair, USCIRF
  Written Remarks
• Frank Wolf, Commissioner, USCIRF
  Written Remarks

Pre-Recorded Remarks

• Victoria Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Iraq & Iran), Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Gretchen Birkle, Team Lead for Religious and Ethnic Minority Programs, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID)

Panel

• Dr. Michael Knights, Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
  Written Testimony
• Salah Ali, General Coordinator, Iraq Religious Freedom and Anti-discrimination Roundtable
  Written Testimony
• Dr. Alda Benjamen, Assistant Professor, University of Dayton
  Written Testimony
• Abid Shamdeen, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Nadia’s Initiative
  Written Testimony

Witness Biographies

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. Members of the media should register online and can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].