USCIRF Releases New Report about Entities of Particular Concern and Religious Freedom

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on the international standards that impose obligations on Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs) to respect the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB):

EPCs and Religious Freedom Factsheet: – Some of the gravest threats to FoRB in recent years have come not from government actions, but from non-state actors. In recognition of this threat, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, which amended the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, created a new presidential designation for EPCs, for non-state actors that engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom and meet certain other criteria. This factsheet explores the international standards that impose human rights obligations on EPCs and other armed non-state actors to respect FoRB. It also considers the responsibilities of EPCs to protect religious communities under international humanitarian and criminal law. A better understanding of the international law principles on the responsibilities of EPCs can help the U.S. government and international partners better respond to violations perpetrated by EPCs, promote the necessity of the protection of religious freedom by non-state actors, and ensure accountability for violations committed by these groups.

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department designate al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Houthis, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), and the Taliban as EPCs. In September 2021, USCIRF released a country update on Yemen, which details the alarming trends of increased Houthi persecution against Baha’is, Christians, and Jews. In 2021, USCIRF also released a factsheet on violent Islamist groups in Northern Nigeria, which details religious freedom violations committed by Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province, as well as a factsheet on Islamists in Central Sahel, which examines Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliated armed groups in that region.

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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].

In recent years, Algerian authorities have shown more hostility towards religious minorities, forcibly closing dozens of Protestant churches and prosecuting Ahmadiyya Muslims for gathering without authorization for the purposes of worship. Algerian courts are also increasingly enforcing Algeria’s blasphemy and anti-proselytization laws, targeting Christians, Muslims, and free thinkers.

USCIRF recommends that the U.S. Department of State include Algeria on its Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. The State Department is scheduled to release its list of designations in November.  

Miles Windsor, who covers North Africa and the Middle East for the Religious Freedom Institute, joins us today to expand upon the religious freedom situation in Algeria.

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USCIRF Releases Factsheet Reiterating its Recommendations for State Department CPC and SWL Designations

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

Recommendations for State Department CPC and SWL Designations Factsheet – With the U.S. Department of State’s designations expected this month, this factsheet reiterates USCIRF’s recommendations to the State Department regarding countries that should be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) or placed on its Special Watchlist (SWL) based on religious freedom conditions in 2020.

For the 2020 reporting period, USCIRF recommended four countries for CPC status that the State Department did not previously designate and 10 countries for the SWL that the State Department did not have on that list. The additional countries USCIRF recommends for CPC designation include India, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam. The additional countries USCIRF recommends for the SWL include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

The factsheet explains the types of violations set forth in the International Religious Freedom Act that, if perpetrated or tolerated by a foreign government, should result in the State Department designating it as a CPC or placing it on the SWL. It also presents analysis on the 14 countries recommended by USCIRF, including a summary of the religious freedom violations in 2020 and major developments so far in 2021 that reflect the overall conditions justifying the designation.

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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].