Mar 4, 2026

 

 

USCIRF Releases 2026 Annual Report: Exposes Egregious Religious Freedom Abuses From Key Nations

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released its 2026 Annual Report. The report documents religious freedom conditions throughout 2025 and sets forth U.S. policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and U.S. Congress to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad. 

“China arrests underground church members, mob violence is on the rise in India and Pakistan leading to attacks on religious minorities and the destruction of their homes, Burma’s military bombs houses of worship, and Tajikistan denies parents the right to teach their children about faith,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “As USCIRF’s Annual Report shows, far too many people in key nations are denied religious freedom through unjust laws, discrimination, harassment, violence, and even crimes against humanity. The U.S. government must continue to advance religious freedom abroad to make a difference for those facing religious persecution.”

Congress mandated USCIRF’s Annual Report in the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. Beyond recommendations, the report includes a summary of the implementation of IRFA, other global developments, and an evaluation of entities that violate FoRB. 

“Religious freedom is a universal human right for all. Reporting on religious freedom conditions abroad is more imperative than ever. Government repression and non-state actor violence are on the rise in many places around the world; often devastating targeted religious communities and taking innocent lives,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. “We urge the State Department to issue its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom and make its designations for countries and entities that violate this fundamental freedom to keep it at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy.”

Recommendations from the 2026 Annual Report include:

  • Eighteen countries recommended to the Secretary of State for designation as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for particularly severe FoRB violations under IRFA.
  • Eleven countries recommended to the Secretary of State for Special Watch List (SWL) designation for severe FoRB violations under IRFA.
  • Seven entities recommended for designation as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC).
  • Broad policy recommendations to the U.S. Administration and Congress.

The annual report can be accessed at uscirf.gov. Commissioners are available for interviews with the press. To schedule an interview, contact [email protected].

###

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.

 

Additional Name(s): Jacob Vorontsov

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Kazakhstan

Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox

Date of Detainment: February//2026

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Yakov Vorontsov

Extra Bio Info:

Yakov Vorontsov is detained for his religious expression and leadership role. 

In February 2026, authorities arrested Vorontsov, a priest of an unregistered Orthodox church, during a midnight raid of his home. Vorontsov had been an outspoken critic of Russia's war on Ukraine, saying it "had nothing in common with Christianity." 

On February 13, Judge Saule Khozhakhmetova sentenced him to 10 days' imprisonment for illegal "use of narcotic drugs" (ACA 440-1). When his sentence ended, Almaty's Investigative Court ordered his prolonged detention as prosecutors pursue criminal charges that he ran a "drug den" in his home where he gathered with his congregation.

Mar 18

WHEN:

Mar 18th 10:00am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

The Endangerment of Jews: The Rise of Antisemitism Abroad

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 
10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET 
Virtual
 

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing on the endangerment of Jews in Europe, Central Asia, Australia and beyond. 

Antisemitism is not a new challenge, as Jews have faced hostility and targeted attacks around the world for centuries. However, more recently Jews are experiencing an escalation in the frequency and severity of such incidents, which constitute a violation of freedom of religion or belief. While in some countries governments have promptly responded to these attacks, elsewhere, governments have tolerated or even perpetrated violence against Jewish communities and enabled environments that endangered Jewish communities. Such attacks on Jewish life target individuals, synagogues, educational institutions, cemeteries, and cultural spaces.

Witnesses will address the scope of challenges facing Jews in the above-listed regions and beyond, share personal stories, and identify policy recommendations by which U.S. policy can address antisemitism abroad.

Opening Remarks

  • Vicky Hartzler, Chair, USCIRF
  • Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair, USCIRF

Congressional Remarks

Panel

  • Ernest Herzog, Executive Director of Operations, World Jewish Congress
  • Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache, Vice President Europe, American Jewish Committee
  • Emma Günsberger, Vice President, Czech Federation of Jewish Communities
  • Alex Ryvchin, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Executive Council of Australian Jewry
  • Marcos Peckel, Executive Director, Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia
  • Elliott Benjamin, Vice President, Iranian American Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
  • David Saperstein, Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom



This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected]. 

Subscribe to