WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today announced the appointment of Erin D. Singshinsuk as USCIRF’s Executive Director.

“USCIRF is very pleased to welcome Erin D. Singshinsuk to the Commission as its new Executive Director,” said USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. “In her capacity since September as USCIRF’s Acting Executive Director, Erin has impressed Commissioners with her understanding of USCIRF’s mission, passion for excellence, and grasp of the important role religious freedom plays in U.S. foreign policy. Erin’s managerial skills also will contribute to  USCIRF’s overall efficiency of operations to better fulfill our important mandate.”

Ms. Singshinsuk has over 25 years of experience managing and working directly in support of federal commissions.  She has been affiliated with numerous organizations with an international focus, including the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) where she served as the Vice President for Management and the Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Singshinsuk also has provided support for a variety of Federal Agencies including USCIRF, the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.   USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties. USCIRF uses international human rights standards to monitor the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the brutal attack at Cairo’s main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.  Twenty-four worshippers were killed and 49 wounded: many of those murdered were women and children. USCIRF sends condolences to the family and friends of the victims and wishes those wounded a speedy recovery. 

“USCIRF calls on the Egyptian government to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous act, and immediately provide increased protection to members of the Coptic community, especially given the upcoming Coptic Christmas holiday,” said USCIRF Chair Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J.  “The Egyptian government must respond to this attack against the Coptic community, the deadliest in recent memory, differently than it has in the past, where, in too many instances, there has been inadequate accountability fostering a climate of impunity.  At the same time, we caution the government not to allow this attack to be used to justify further restrictions on civil society.”

Most perpetrators from past large scale incidents that targeted Copts and took place between 2011 and 2013, and even before that, have not been prosecuted.  In addition, repressive laws and discriminatory policies against Copts remain in place.  

The continued existence of these laws and policies and the climate of impunity resulting from the lack of accountability are taking place against a backdrop of deteriorating human rights conditions. These factors mitigate the positive steps the Egyptian government has taken in recent years to address some religious freedom concerns.     

For more information on Egypt, please see USCIRF’s 2016 Annual Report chapter (in English and in Arabic).

To interview a Commisisoner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0615. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released two reports highlighting Burma’s serious religious freedom challenges. 

• Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma highlights the pervasive and longstanding persecution and discrimination Christians face that have persisted, often unreported, for generations. View the report here in English and Burmese.
• Suspended in Time: The Ongoing Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma details the persecution of Rohingya Muslims’ resulting from government-directed abuses and/or government indifference to discrimination and violence that has killed hundreds, displaced thousands, and destroyed hundreds of religious properties since 2012. View the report here in English and Burmese.

From Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma

The enduring, constitutionally entrenched power of the military and the elevation of Buddhism as the de facto state religion are key factors in understanding violations of religious freedom currently affecting Christian communities in Burma…Many of the discriminatory policies and practices instituted under the military regime continue today… The Committee for the Protection of Race and Religion, better known as Ma Ba Tha, and other ultra-nationalistic monks have played a key role in abusing the right to religious freedom and inciting violence against Christian pastors and missionaries.

From Suspended in Time: The Ongoing Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma:

More than four years ago, two waves of sectarian violence struck Rakhine State. In the time since, Rohingya Muslims, Rakhine Buddhists, and individuals of other ethnicities and beliefs throughout the state have suffered grievous deprivations of basic rights, including inadequate access to food, water, shelter, education, and health care; restrictions on freedom of movement; denial of needed humanitarian aid; limited opportunities to obtain an education or earn a living; egregious human rights abuses resulting in death, injury, and displacement; and, in the case of Rohingya Muslims, the denial of the right to a nationality and citizenship.

EVENT: USCIRF will present findings from the reports at an event today at 3pm EST at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. For more information on the event, please click here.

To interview a Commisisoner, please contact Travis Horne at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.