Displaying results 1 - 78 of 78

Jan 11, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 11, 2013| By USCIRF The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly condemns a series of terror attacks that took place on January 10 targeting Pakistani Shi'a Muslims.…
Mar 2, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMARCH 1, 2013| By USCIRF The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) marked the 2nd anniversary of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti with a renewed call for the Pakistani government…
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…
Jul 2, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 2, 2013 | By USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A suicide bomber attacked a Shia neighborhood in Quetta, the capital city of Pakistan's Baluchistan province, on Sunday June 30, killing at least 36…
Jul 8, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 8, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett The following appeared in Eurasia Review on July 4th, 2013. Last Saturday, on June 29, I was honored to speak in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the Ahmadiyya…
Aug 12, 2013 For Your Information August 12, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in Foreign Policy on August 9, 2013: On Sunday, August 11, Pakistan will celebrate National Minorities Day, giving recently-…
Aug 22, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 21, 2013 | By Robert P. George and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in The Washington Post on August 21, 2013. Although religious freedom is a pivotal human right,…
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 25, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION September 20, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on September 20, 2013. As the UN General Assembly begins its new session,…
Sep 25, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 25, 2013| By USCIRF On Sunday September 22, reportedly the worst attack on Pakistani Christians in that nation's history took place. On that day, two suicide bombers attacked the All…
Oct 18, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 18, 2013| USCIRF During his October 23 White House meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, USCIRF urges President Obama to raise concerns about the dire religious freedom…
Nov 8, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONNovember 7, 2013 | By Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on November 7, 2013. As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of…
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…
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…
Nov 10, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2014  | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. –  In the face of escalating violations worldwide of religious freedom, an initiative that the U.S. Commission on International…
Mar 17, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, March 15, the day an official U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) delegation to Pakistan departed the country, Pakistani…
May 14, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 14, 2015 | USCIRF  WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Pakistani Taliban splinter group now reportedly affiliated with ISIL, on May 13 murdered at least 45 Ismaili Muslims in Karachi.  The killers…
Jun 3, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJune 3, 2015 | Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in The National Interest on June 3, 2015 A court in Afghanistan recently sentenced eleven police officers…
Aug 11, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 11, 2015 | Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in Foreign Policy on August 10, 2015 As their nation celebrates National Minorities Day on Tuesday, August…
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…
Nov 30, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 30, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the heinous attack on an Ahmadi Muslim factory and…
Feb 1, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the arrest, detention, and sentencing of Abul Shakoor, an 80-year…
Mar 1, 2016 Pakistan: On Fifth Anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti Assassination, USCIRF Calls for Reform and Repeal of Blasphemy Law   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on March…
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,…
Oct 14, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION October 14, 2016 | Kristina Arriaga and Sandra Jolley  The following op-ed appeard in Newsweek Pakistan on October 14, 2016   “I raise my voice… not so I can shout, but so that…
Oct 27, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION October 27, 2016 | By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. and Daniel Mark The following op-ed appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 27, 2016    Abdul Shakoor is a member of the…
Dec 9, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the raid by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on the…
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 13, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 13, 2018 USCIRF Mourns Death of Leading Pakistani Human Rights Defender USCIRF Chairman Mark says Ms. Jahangir “will always be remembered as a fearless advocate for human rights”…
Jul 24, 2018 This op-ed originally appeared in Religion News Service on July 24, 2018. By Gayle Manchin and Johnnie Moore (RNS) - This week, as hundreds of religious leaders, nonprofit heads and government officials…
Aug 7, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 7, 2018   At Gathering of 37,000 Ahmadi Muslims, USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore Vows to Make Religious Freedom in Pakistan a Priority Commissioner Moore also formally adopts…
Oct 31, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2018   USCIRF Welcomes Pakistani Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Death Sentence Against Asia Bibi   WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Commission on International…
Dec 11, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018   New USCIRF Report: Anti-Conversion Laws on the Rise in South Asia USCIRF Calls on U.S. to Press South Asian Governments to Rescind These Laws   WASHINGTON, DC –…
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…
Feb 26, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 26, 2019   USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore Calls on Pakistan to Release Prisoner of Conscience Abdul Shakoor   WASHINGTON, DC – Johnnie Moore, Commissioner of the United…
Mar 19, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2019   USCIRF Welcomes Release of Religious Prisoner of Conscience Abdul Shakoor     WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Apr 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2019       USCIRF Condemns Terrorist Attack on Shi’a Muslims in Pakistan   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF…
May 8, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019   USCIRF Statement on Asia Bibi’s Arrival in Canada and Bombing in Lahore   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Mar 31, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2020 USCIRF Troubled with Targeting of Hazara Shi’a in Pakistan amid Coronavirus Lockdown Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Apr 2, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2020 USCIRF Dismayed by Lack of Accountability for the Murder of Daniel Pearl Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its…
Apr 13, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2020 USCIRF Troubled by Denial of Food Aid to Pakistani Hindus and Christians Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by the…
May 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2020 USCIRF Welcomes Establishment of Pakistan’s National Commission for Minorities as a First Step Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Jun 16, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Releases New Report about Pakistan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:…
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…
Jul 30, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Expresses Outrage at the Killing of U.S. Citizen Over Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Nov 16, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    USCIRF Gravely Concerned about the Rise in Blasphemy Cases Leading to Mob Violence in Pakistan Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is…
Dec 9, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: USCIRF Releases Groundbreaking Report on the Enforcement of Blasphemy Laws Globally WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a…
Jan 7, 2021     USCIRF Commissioner James W. Carr Adopts Ramzan Bibi in Pakistan through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner James…
Mar 2, 2021 USCIRF Marks 10th Anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti Assassination Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today marks the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Shahbaz…
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 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…
Oct 18, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report about Persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on persecution of…
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…
Aug 5, 2022 USCIRF Releases New Report Highlighting Religious Freedom in Pakistan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Pakistan…
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 8, 2023 USCIRF Alarmed by Worldwide Blasphemy Enforcement Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is alarmed by the continued enforcement of blasphemy provisions around the world and condemns efforts to…
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 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…
Nov 6, 2023 USCIRF Concerned by Pakistan’s Expulsion of Refugees and Attacks Against Ahmadiyya Muslims Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by reports of increased detainment, violence, and…
Nov 28, 2023 USCIRF Releases Report on National Level Anti-Conversion Laws around the World Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Compendium of National Anti-…
Dec 18, 2023 USCIRF Releases Report on Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law Washington, DC –The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Assessing Blasphemy in Pakistan – This report describes the…
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…
Mar 15, 2024 USCIRF Calls Attention to Prevalence of Anti-Muslim Hate Around the World Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is alarmed at the proliferation of incidents and expressions of anti-Muslim…
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…
Jun 7, 2024 USCIRF Troubled by Violence Against Christians in Pakistan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the recent vigilante violence against 74-year-old Lazar (Nazir) Masih in…
Aug 8, 2024 USCIRF Releases Report on Government Misinformation and Disinformation and Religious Freedom Washington, DC –The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report: Misinformation and…
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…
Apr 25, 2025 USCIRF Condemns Attack in KashmirWashington D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 Indian citizens and one…
Apr 28, 2025 USCIRF Alarmed by Repatriation of Afghan RefugeesWashington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), is alarmed by the Pakistani government’s rapid and ongoing repatriation of Afghan refugees to Taliban-…
May 24, 2025 USCIRF Condemns Rising Attacks on Ahmadiyya Muslims in PakistanWashington D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns increasing attacks against members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan…
Jun 20, 2025 This op-ed was originally published by Religion News Service on June 20, 2025.By USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and Commissioner Stephen SchneckWords fail to express the sorrow felt for those who suddenly lost their lives in the Air India plane…
Sep 18, 2025 Pakistan Sees Increasing Attacks Targeting Religious MinoritiesWashington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report: Pakistan Country Update – This report highlights religious…
Oct 1, 2025  USCIRF Releases Report on Refugees Fleeing Religious PersecutionWashington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on refugees fleeing religious persecution:The Responsibility of…
Dec 2, 2025  Blasphemy Law Remains an Impediment to Religious Freedom in PakistanWashington D.C. – The U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterates it’s call for the U.S. government to work with Pakistani officials to take…