Apr 30, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 30, 2013| By USCIRF
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body created by the International Religious Freedom…
May 14, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 14, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett
The following was published in the Washington Post, On Faith on May 14, 2013.
Fifteen years ago, on May 14, 1998, U.S. House of Representatives voted in…
May 21, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 21, 2013 | By USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the State Department's release of its 2012 International Religious Freedom…
Jun 26, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJune 26, 2013 |By Katrina Lantos Swett
Editor"s note: Katrina Lantos Swett is the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The views expressed are the writer"s own.
The…
Jul 25, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 24, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon
The following appeared in CNN World/GPS on July 23rd, 2013.
Editor"s note: Katrina Lantos Swett is chairwoman of the U.S. Commission…
Dec 3, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 2, 2013 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in the Providence Journal on November 30, 2013.
Washington - As the nation celebrates Thanksgiving, Jewish Americans are also…
Dec 11, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
December 11, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon
The following op-ed appeared in Reuters & the Chicago Tribune on December 10, 2013.
December 10 marks Human Rights Day,…
Jan 28, 2014
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
January 27, 2014 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in The Hill on January 27, 2014.
I testified before the Congressional Tom Lantos Human…
Jul 7, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 7, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC – As Muslims around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan, Uighur Muslims in China face far-reaching restrictions on their religious practices. …
Jul 30, 2014
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 30, 2014 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser
The following op-ed appeared on RNS on July 29, 2014. This op-ed also appeared in the Washington Post.
While last month marked the…
Sep 25, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the life sentence handed down to respected Uighur Muslim scholar…
Oct 30, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 30, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the recent formal arrest of Wu Zeheng, also known as Buddhist Zen…
Feb 26, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONFebruary 26, 2015 | By Katrina Lantos Swett & Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in Al Jazeera America on February 26, 2015.
By all accounts, the past year in China…
Jun 18, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 18, 2015
For Uighur Muslims in China’s autonomous region of Xinjiang, observing Ramadan – a month-long period of introspection, fasting, prayer, and devotion – is difficult, if not…
Jul 6, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 6, 2015 | Robert P. George and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on July 5, 2015
Today, July 6, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, a modern-day exemplar of…
Sep 22, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 22, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the life sentence handed down to Chinese Uighur…
Sep 28, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
September 28, 2015 | Daniel I. Mark and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on September 27, 2015
Washington hosted two dramatically…
Dec 10, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 10, 2015 | Mary Ann Glendon and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in The National Interest on December 10, 2015
December 10 marks Human Rights Day, the sixty-seventh…
Apr 20, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes Secretary of State John Kerry’s re-designation on April 15, 2016 of Burma,…
Jul 6, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Muslims around the world mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr celebrations, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Aug 25, 2016
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
August 25, 2016 | Kristina Arriaga and Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J.
The following op/ed appeared in The Hill on August 25, 2016.
Many men, women, and children each year…
Aug 30, 2016
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
August 30, 2016 | Daniel I. Mark and Sandra Jolley
The following op/ed appeared in Religion News Service on August 30, 2016
(RNS) Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was a 6-year-old boy when he…
Aug 31, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Religious freedom conditions in China have deteriorated under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Given this deterioration, the U.S.…
Dec 9, 2016
The following op-ed appeared in Religion New Service on December 9, 2016
By former USCIRF Commissioners Kristina Arriaga and John Ruskay
Pwint Phyu Latt is a Muslim peace activist in Burma who sought to…
Apr 25, 2017
Click here to read the Chinese translation of the letter. Click here to read the Tibetan translation of the letter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2017
OPEN LETTER FROM USCIRF…
Jul 5, 2017
Click here to see coverage from The Economist on USCIRF's press release. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2017
CHINA: USCIRF Condemns Ramadan Restrictions in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
“The Chinese government…
Jul 13, 2017
Click here to read Vice Chair Jolley's letter to Gulmira Imin.
Click here to read the Uyghur translation of the letter to Gulmira Imin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2017
Open Letter from…
Aug 3, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2017
USCIRF Condemns Egypt’s Deportation of Uighur Muslims to China
“These latest moves show a calculated indifference to the Uighur Muslim community”
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S…
Oct 12, 2017
The following op-ed appeared in Huffington Post on October 12, 2017
By former Commissioner Tenzin Dorjee and Congressman Jim Mcgovern
Imagine you are a 6-year-old. Your world is your family, friends…
Nov 1, 2017
The following op-ed appeared in The Diplomat on November 1, 2017
By former Commissioners Sandra Jolley and Tenzin Dorjee
As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to travel to China in early…
Nov 16, 2017
The following originally op-ed appeared in The Hill on November 16, 2017
By former USCIRF Commissioners Daniel Mark and Sandra Jolley
People love lists. And when those lists are in the news,…
Feb 28, 2018
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourns the sudden passing of Chinese human rights lawyer Dr. Li Baiguang, a devoted advocate for religious freedom who represented falsely accused…
Apr 24, 2018
Click here for a Chinese translation of this letter
Click here for a Tibetan translation of this letter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2018
Open Letter from USCIRF Commissioner Tenzin Dorjee to the Panchen Lama on…
May 14, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2018
CHINA: USCIRF Deeply Concerned About Increasing Repression of Uighur Muslims
“The Chinese government’s restrictions on Uighur Muslims are an attempt to assimilate a besieged…
Sep 11, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 11, 2018
USCIRF Highly Concerned by Latest Chinese Government Abuses Against Religious Communities
USCIRF is highly concerned by reports of Chinese authorities’…
Oct 5, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5, 2018
USCIRF Calls for Release of Prisoner of Conscience as White House Takes Harder Line on Religious Freedom Violations in China
Christian Underground Church Leader Hu…
Oct 16, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2018
USCIRF Strongly Condemns Codification of Repression in Western China
“This is a deeply troubling development because it signals that the Chinese
government believes it…
Dec 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2018
State Department Names the World’s Worst Violators of Religious Freedom
USCIRF Praises CPC Designation of Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on…
Dec 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2018
USCIRF Statement on Chinese Authorities’ Crackdown on Early Rain Covenant Church Pastor and Congregants
USCIRF is extremely concerned by reports that on…
Dec 20, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2018
USCIRF Welcomes Enactment of Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF…
Feb 15, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2019
As Uighur Muslims Demand Video Evidence of Loved Ones, USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee Calls on China to Release Prisoner of Conscience Gulmira Imin
WASHINGTON, DC –…
Apr 8, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2019
USCIRF Commissioners Adopt American Pastor David Lin Through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
WASHINGTON, DC – Kristina Arriaga and Tony Perkins…
Apr 25, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 25, 2019
Open Letter to the Missing Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima on His 30th Birthday
Your Holiness Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,
Tashi Delek or Happy 30th Birthday…
May 10, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2019
USCIRF Strongly Urges Administration to Raise Religious Freedom Violations in China Trade Talks
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International…
May 23, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2019
USCIRF Statement on Senate Committee’s Holding China’s Human Rights Abusers Accountable
WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s…
Jun 4, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2019
On Tiananmen Square Anniversary, USCIRF Calls for Sanctions on Officials Responsible for Religious Freedom Violations
WASHINGTON, DC – On the 30th anniversary of the…
Jul 2, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2019
USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins to Advocate for Release of Imprisoned Uighur Muslim Dilshat Perhat Ataman
WASHINGTON, DC – Tony Perkins, chair of the United States…
Jul 8, 2019
This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on July 5, 2019.
By Gary Bauer and Tenzin Dorjee
In a country where as many as 2 million Uighurs and other Muslims are imprisoned in concentration…
Aug 5, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 5, 2019
USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer Calls for Release of Imprisoned Underground Church Leader Hu Shigen
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Commission on International…
Aug 8, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 8, 2019
USCIRF Commissioner Tenzin Dorjee Calls for Release of Religious Prisoner of Conscience Gulmira Imin
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Commission on International…
Sep 16, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a report on the Chinese government’s use of surveillance cameras,…
Oct 1, 2019
On China’s National Day, USCIRF Urges U.S. Government to Take Action on Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC – Today marks the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, also known as National Day. The…
Oct 10, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 10, 2019
USCIRF Urges Congress to Pass Tibetan Policy and Support Act,
Welcomes Recent Measures to Protect Religious Freedom in China
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States…
Dec 4, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2019
USCIRF Welcomes House Passage of the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2019, Urges Swift Passage in the Senate
WASHINGTON, DC…
Jan 30, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2019
USCIRF Welcomes Passage of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act in House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International…
Feb 20, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Factsheet on China’s Regulation of Religious Groups
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Mar 13, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2020
USCIRF Condemns Use of Uighur Muslim Forced Labor in China and Urges Congressional Response
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Apr 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2020
USCIRF Outraged Over China Selection to UN Human Right Council Consultative Group
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Apr 24, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2020
USCIRF Calls for Release of the Panchen Lama
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today reiterated its call for the…
Apr 24, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2020
USCIRF Commends U.S. Holocaust Museum Spotlight on China
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commended the decision of…
May 5, 2020
This op-ed originally appeared by Washington Examiner on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
By USCIRF Commissioners Gary Bauer and Tenzin Dorjee
The International Olympic Committee and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo…
May 14, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Decision to Prevent Federal Retirement Savings from Being Invested in Chinese Corporations
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Jun 4, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by Deseret News, on June 4, 2020.
By USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins and Vice Chair Gayle Manchin
Sitting across the table from Sudan’s new prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, in…
Jun 8, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by TIME, on June 8, 2020.
By USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel
On May 28, after years of hard work and dedication, the House of Representatives passed the historic Uyghur…
Jun 16, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by Fox News, on June 16, 2020.
By USCIRF Commissioners Gary Bauer and Nury Turkel
During the first few months of 2020, Chinese authorities reportedly shut down at least 48…
Jun 17, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2020
USCIRF Celebrates President Trump’s Signature of Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Jun 24, 2020
This op-ed originally appeared on The Hill, on June 24, 2020.
By USCIRF Commissioners Nury Turkel and Gary Bauer
For most people, traveling abroad can lead to exciting opportunities and exposure to…
Jun 26, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2020
USCIRF Expresses Concern about National Security Legislation’s Threat to Religious Freedom in Hong Kong
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Jun 30, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2020
USCIRF Warns that Forced Sterilization of Uyghur Muslims is Evidence of Genocide
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned…
Jul 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the decision by the…
Jul 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2020
USCIRF Applauds Global Magnitsky Sanctions Against Senior Chinese Officials
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Jul 20, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by The Washington Examiner, on July 20, 2020.
By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins
In Iraq, the 50th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces has…
Aug 26, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by The Diplomat, on August 26, 2020.
By USCIRF Commissioners Nury Turkel and James W. Carr
Face masks have become ubiquitous as the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, as the…
Sep 15, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Import Ban against Xinjiang Firms
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the decision by the U.S. Customs and Border…
Sep 22, 2020
USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel Named to TIME’s Annual TIME100 List of 100 Most Influential People in the World
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Sep 23, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Welcomes House Passage of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed the House of…
Oct 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Welcomes the Appointment of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Dec 16, 2020
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore Adopts Jimmy Lai through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Johnnie…
Dec 22, 2020
USCIRF Condemns Harsh Sentence for Christian Bookseller Chen Yu
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the harsh and disproportionate sentence handed down…
Dec 29, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Enactment of the Tibet Policy and Support Act
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends President Donald J. Trump for signing the Tibetan…
Jan 19, 2021
USCIRF Applauds State Department Designation of Uyghur Muslims’ Treatment in China as Genocide
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauds the U.S. Department…
Jan 20, 2021
This op-ed was originally published by the New York Times on January 20, 2021.
Written by USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel.
Forced labor has been a central part of China’s campaign against the Uighurs…
Mar 23, 2021
USCIRF Applauds Coordinated Sanctions Against Xinjiang Officials
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauds the coordinated sanctions that the United States,…
Mar 29, 2021
USCIRF Condemns the Chinese Government’s Sanctions on USCIRF Commissioners
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the Chinese government’s…
Apr 12, 2021
This op-ed was originally published by the Wall Street Journal, on April 11, 2021.
By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and Vice Chair Tony Perkins
Read full article
Apr 21, 2021
USCIRF Releases 2021 Annual Report with Recommendations for U.S. Policy
No Longer Recommends Three Countries for Special Watch List
Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom…
Apr 23, 2021
USCIRF Reiterates Call to Release the Panchen Lama
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today reiterated its call for the Chinese government to release …
May 12, 2021
USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel Adopts
Uyghur Religious Prisoner of Conscience
Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Nury Turkel announced…
May 27, 2021
USCIRF Condemns Chinese Government’s Sanction on Former Commissioner
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the Chinese government for imposing…
Jul 2, 2021
USCIRF Applauds Ban on Chinese Solar Panels Produced by Uyghur Forced Labor
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauded the Biden administration’s whole-of-…
Oct 29, 2021
USCIRF Releases Factsheet on China’s Measures on the Management of Religious Clergy
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report…
Dec 6, 2021
USCIRF Welcomes Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today applauded President Joseph R. Biden for implementing a…
Dec 21, 2021
USCIRF Condemns the Chinese Government’s Additional Sanctions on USCIRF Commissioners
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the Chinese…
Mar 8, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by Newsweek on March 8, 2022.
By USCIRF Commissioners Anurima Bhargava and Tony Perkins
Gulmira Imin is a Uyghur Muslim in China, former administrator of the Uyghur-language…
Apr 16, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by USA Today on April 16, 2022.
By USCIRF Commissioners Jim Carr and Fred Davie
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has long advocated for the…
Apr 25, 2022
USCIRF Releases 2022 Annual Report with Recommendations for U.S. Policy
Recommends Afghanistan as Country of Particular Concern
Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Apr 25, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on April 25, 2022.
By USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and Vice Chair Nury Turkel
As the world is trying to resume some semblance of normalcy, it is abundantly clear that…
May 13, 2022
USCIRF Calls for Panchen Lama’s Release
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is once again calling for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whom the Chinese…
Aug 21, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by Fox News on August 21, 2022.
By USCIRF Commissioner Frank R. Wolf
I have been inside a Chinese prison, and it is grim to say the least. The imprisonment of 90-year-old…