Displaying results 1 - 84 of 84

Apr 15, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 15, 2013| By USCIRF  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ongoing attacks and retaliations by Muslims and Christians in Nigeria's violent, religiously and ethnically mixed Middle Belt has left more…
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…
Sep 11, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONSeptember 11, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on September 11, 2013. Editor's note: Robert P. George is chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
Sep 23, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 23, 2013| By USCIRF USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Upcoming Meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent…
Oct 18, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 4, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on October 4, 2013. Editor's note: Robert P. George is the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
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,…
Dec 2, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2014 I USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the horrific November 28 attack on worshippers at Kano’s Central…
Feb 2, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reports of pre-election violence, combined with rising societal and political tensions, increase the likelihood of religiously-motivated violence…
Apr 3, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 3, 2015 | USCIRF Calls on President-Elect to Govern Inclusively and Address Inter-Faith Tensions WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Jul 17, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2015  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hundreds of people have been killed in Boko Haram terrorist attacks throughout northern Nigeria and in sectarian violence in the Middle Belt during the past…
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…
Oct 21, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 21, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed the October 14 release by the U.S. State Department of its International Religious…
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,…
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,…
Jul 30, 2018 This op-ed originally appeared in The Hill on July 27, 2018. By former USCIRF Commissioners Tenzin Dorjee and Kristina Arriaga To the surprise of many, there is a foreign policy issue on which…
Feb 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2019   USCIRF Releases Report on Violence in Central Nigeria on Eve of Presidential Elections   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Dec 9, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2019 USCIRF Raises Alarm about Speech Laws that Restrict Religious Freedom in More than Half of African Countries Briefing Tomorrow to Feature New Report and Recommendations  …
Dec 10, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2019   USCIRF Releases New Report on Shari’ah Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
May 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2020 USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its deep…
Jun 22, 2020 USCIRF Denounces Recent ISWAP Attacks in Northeast Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today denounced the recent attacks by Boko Haram faction Islamic…
Jul 28, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Condemns Execution of Aid Workers by ISWAP Militants Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) denounced the execution of five aid…
Aug 11, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Condemns Death Sentence for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu on Blasphemy Charges Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the death sentence…
Sep 17, 2020 USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie Adopts Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu of Nigeria through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Washington, DC – United States Commission on International…
Sep 29, 2020 This op-ed was originally published in The Globe Post, on September 29, 2020. By Vice Chair Tony Perkins and Commissioner Frederick A. Davie In the west African country of Burkina Faso, the Grand Imam of Djibo…
Oct 1, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases New Report about Religious Tensions and Fulani Communities in West and Central Africa Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Dec 7, 2020 USCIRF Welcomes the State Department’s Designation of Nigeria among World’s Worst Violators of Religious Freedom Encouraged to See Positive Movement in Some Countries WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on…
Dec 16, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious…
Dec 17, 2020 USCIRF Condemns Boko Haram Attacks and Threats against Christians WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned recent attacks by Boko Haram in Niger and…
Feb 5, 2021 This op-ed was originally published by Religion News Service, on February 5, 2021.  By USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins and Commissioner Frederick A. Davie.    Last year, a Shariah court in northern…
Feb 12, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report about Violent Islamist Groups in Northern Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on…
Mar 16, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report about Shari’a and LGBTI Persons Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following factsheet on governments’ use of…
Apr 14, 2021 USCIRF Alarmed by Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions & Security in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its alarm and outrage regarding deteriorating…
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…
Jul 9, 2021 USCIRF Condemns School Abductions in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the attack on a Christian school in Nigeria, where 125 students…
Jul 15, 2021 USCIRF Denounces Nigerian Religious Police Arrests of LGBTI Persons   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today denounced the arrest of five men suspected of engaging in lesbian, gay…
Jul 22, 2021 This op-ed was originally published in Newsweek, on July 22, 2021. Written by USCIRF Commissioners Anurima Bhargava and Tony Perkins.   This spring, in the central African nation of Democratic Republic of the…
Oct 4, 2021 USCIRF Alarmed by Violence against Christians & Shi’a Muslims in Nigeria   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned recent instances of…
Oct 5, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Nigeria’s Kano State   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report…
Oct 17, 2021 This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on October 17, 2021. By USCIRF Commissioners Frederick A. Davie and Tony Perkins. In July, officials in northern Nigeria invited prominent local preacher Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru…
Oct 20, 2021 USCIRF Releases Report Highlighting Religious Freedom Violations against Muslims in Africa Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new…
Nov 8, 2021 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…
Nov 17, 2021 USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom Welcomes State Department’s Additional Designations of Russia and Algeria Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious…
Feb 18, 2022 USCIRF Commissioner Tony Perkins Calls for Leah Sharibu’s Freedom on Abduction Anniversary   Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Mar 4, 2022 USCIRF Commissioner Davie Calls for the Immediate Release of RPOC Yahaya Sharif-Aminu Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called for the release of Muslim gospel…
Apr 5, 2022 USCIRF Condemns Mubarak Bala Prison Sentence, Calls for U.S. Government Response   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the Kano State High…
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…
Jun 17, 2022 USCIRF Delegation Travels to Nigeria to Assess Religious Freedom Conditions Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Frederick A. Davie along with USCIRF…
Sep 6, 2022 USCIRF Releases New Report on Violence Impacting Religious Freedom in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:…
Sep 28, 2022 USCIRF Condemns Recent Attacks on Worshippers in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned a recent attack by armed bandits against worshippers at a mosque in Zamfara…
Oct 26, 2022 USCIRF Releases New Report on Blasphemy Laws in Nigeria   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Blasphemy Laws in Nigeria – The increasing…
Dec 2, 2022 USCIRF Outraged by Omission of Nigeria and India from State Department’s List of Countries of Particular Concern Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) finds it inexplicable that the U.S. Department of…
Mar 8, 2023 USCIRF Observes International Women’s Day Brings Attention to Religious Freedom Violations Abroad Against Women Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commemorates International Women’s Day, and…
Mar 9, 2023 This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on March 8, 2023. By USCIRF Commissioners Mohamed Magid and Frank R. Wolf At the start of the new year, armed gunmen in northern Nigeria invaded the home of …
Apr 4, 2023 USCIRF Releases New Report on African Traditional and Indigenous Religions Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on African traditional and indigenous…
Apr 19, 2023 USCIRF Condemns Funeral Attack, Rising Violence in Northcentral Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the recent attack on a funeral in Benue State, Nigeria, which…
Apr 27, 2023 USCIRF Releases New Report on Abuses against Fulani Muslim Civilians Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on abuses against Fulani Muslim civilians…
May 1, 2023 USCIRF Releases 2023 Annual Report Highlighting Worsening Religious Freedom Conditions Around the World Includes new recommendations of Cuba and Nicaragua as Countries of Particular Concern and Sri Lanka for the Special Watch List Washington,…
May 14, 2023 USCIRF Commemorates Leah Sharibu’s 20th Birthday and Calls for Her Rescue Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today noted the twentieth birthday of Christian…
May 15, 2023 USCIRF Welcomes the Release of State Department’s 2022 International Religious Freedom Report Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the State Department…
May 24, 2023 USCIRF Calls for the Release of Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif Aminu Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today reiterated its calls for the release of Nigerian…
Jun 9, 2023 USCIRF Releases New Report on Ethnonationalism and Religious Freedom in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on ethnonationalism and religious…
May 3, 2023 This op-ed was originally published by Religion News Service on May 3, 2023. By USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel & Vice Chair Abraham Cooper Denying religious freedom and women’s rights go hand-in-hand. Over the…
Sep 14, 2023 USCIRF Releases Updated Blasphemy Factsheet and Blasphemy Law Compendium Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released two new reports: Legislation Factsheet on Blasphemy – This…
Dec 14, 2023 USCIRF Alarmed by Rising Violence Against Religious Groups in Nigeria Urges State Department to Make CPC Designation Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the recent uptick of…
Jan 4, 2024 USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern Azerbaijan Added to State Department’s Special Watch List Washington, DC – The United States Commission on…
Jan 23, 2024 USCIRF Calls for Greater Protection of Religious Sites in Conflict Areas Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on all parties to armed conflicts around the world to abide by…
May 1, 2024 USCIRF Releases 2024 Annual Report with New Recommendations for U.S. Policy Highlights State of Religious Freedom Abroad after 25 Years of IRFA Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
May 14, 2024 USCIRF Releases New Report on Protection of Religious Sites During Armed Conflict Washington, DC –The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Protection of Religious Sites…
Aug 9, 2024 USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Freedom in Nigeria Washington, DC — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report: Nigeria Country Update - This report provides an update…
Dec 26, 2024   USCIRF Welcomes the Acquittal of Rhoda Jatau Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauds the December 19 decision of a court in Bauchi State, Nigeria, to acquit Christian nurse…
Jan 8, 2025 USCIRF Welcomes News of Mubarak Bala’s Release from Prison in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes news of the release from prison of humanist Mubarak Bala. Arrested in 2020…
Mar 25, 2025 USCIRF Releases 2025 Annual ReportWashington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released its 2025 Annual Report. The report documents religious freedom conditions in 2024 and recommends policy…
Jun 18, 2025 USCIRF Reiterates Call for CPC Designation for Nigeria Weekend Attack on Catholic Mission Exacerbates the Religious Freedom Crisis in Africa’s Largest CountryWashington D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF…
Jul 21, 2025 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Nigeria Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:  Nigeria Country Update - This report provides an…
Sep 9, 2025 Promoting Religious Freedom is a Vital Atrocity Prevention ToolWashington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on the link between atrocity prevention and international religious…
Nov 3, 2025   Naming of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern is an Important Step to Advance Religious FreedomWashington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes President Trump’s making Nigeria…
Nov 7, 2025 The op-ed was originally published by National Review on November 7, 2025.By USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood and Commissioner Maureen FergusonIslamic terrorists have inflicted a decade of religiously motivated sexual violence on Christian women…
Nov 21, 2025   More Than the CPC Designation Is Needed as Violations on Religious Freedom in Nigeria Escalate Washington, DC – Nearly three weeks since President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), there has…
Feb 13, 2026  Congress Should Ban Lobbying by Countries that Violate FoRBWashington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. government to publicly identify and admonish foreign governments that…
May 8, 2026  Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Nigeria:   Nonstate…