Oct 20, 2025
Torture and Ill Treatment are Tools of Violating Religious Freedom
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on religious freedom and torture:
Religious Freedom and the Prohibition of Torture and Ill Treatment – Governments around the world continue to breach international law by engaging in torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (“ill treatment”) of individuals. In promoting international religious freedom, the U.S. government is required to consider the connection between religious freedom violations and torture. Recognizing how torture and ill treatment can be used to violate religious freedom strengthens both the protection of this right and the right to be free from torture by expanding remedies for victims and increasing state accountability for violations. This factsheet provides an overview of U.S. policy related to this nexus, relevant international human rights standards, and contexts where violations occur concurrently. The factsheet includes case studies highlighting this intersection from countries including Afghanistan, China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
Throughout its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF cites reports of torture and ill treatment based on religion or belief. USCIRF further documents in its Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List victims targeted due to their religion or belief who have suffered torture or other ill treatment.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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].
Oct 17, 2025
The Eritrean government does not recognize religious communities other than the Tewahedo Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Evangelical Lutheran churches, along with Sunni Islam. As a result, there are dozens religious minorities including Jehovah’s Witnesses (including several religious leaders), Baptists, and Pentecostals currently incarcerated in Eritrea. Authorities pressure prisoners to renounce their faith and ban praying aloud, singing, preaching, and possessing religious books. In 1994, police abducted Jehovah’s Witness Negede Teklemariam for “conscientiously objecting to performing compulsory military service.” He remained in prison for 26 years without being formally charged. The government finally released him in 2020. In its 2025 annual report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern.
On today’s episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Supervisory Policy Analyst Scott Weiner speaks with former Eritrean religious prisoner of conscience Negede Teklemariam about his experience being imprisoned for exercising his freedom of religion or belief. Scott is also joined by John McEachin of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as he discusses the general status of the Eritrean Witnesses community and possible policy changes that might offer them some relief.
Read USCIRF’s 2025 Annual Report Chapter on Eritrea and USCIRF’s most recent Eritrea Country Update.
Oct 16, 2025
USCIRF Condemns Nationwide Detention of Church Leaders across China
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) detention of Zion Church founder Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin as well as the brutal arrest of dozens of other religious leaders and church staff in multiple regions across China.
“With these arrests, the CCP once again has demonstrated its utter contempt for religious freedom,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “We call upon the US government to pressure China on this horrendous violation until it releases Ezra Jin and of all those who have been detained for practicing their faith.”
This nationwide crackdown adds to ongoing assaults on freedom of religion or belief within China. Under President Xi Jinping’s “sinicization of religion” policy, CCP authorities have escalated efforts to coerce and to enact retribution on religious groups refusing to join state-controlled religious organizations.
“These latest arrests of religious leaders is a continuation of the CCP’s persecution against the Chinese people,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. “The Chinese government will stop at nothing – even its own borders – to repress religious freedom for everyone.”
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State continue to designate China as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. On September 26, 2025, USCIRF released a report on “China's Persecution of Religious Leaders,” including imprisonment, forced disappearance, and torture. USCIRF held a hearing on October 16, 2025, on “State-Controlled Religion in China” at which these latest developments were addressed.
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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].