Displaying results 1 - 9 of 9

The Hill: The List No One Wants to Be On
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,…
The Diplomat: To Prevent Violent Extremism in Tajikistan, Promote Religious Freedom
Jun 11, 2021 This op-ed was originally published by The Diplomat on June 11, 2021. By USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins and Commissioner Nury Turkel.   Tajikistan is located in a dangerous neighborhood, sharing a long border…
Religious Freedom & Taliban Fears in Tajikistan
Sep 30, 2021 For many years, USCIRF has been deeply concerned about religious freedom conditions in Central Asia, and more recently the impact of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan on the surrounding region. Since 2012…
The Persecution of Muslims in Tajikistan
Nov 10, 2022 Tajikistan’s population is majority Sunni Muslim, with a small Shi’a Muslim community which primarily consists of ethnic Pamiris located in the mountainous eastern part of the country known as the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO).…
The Diplomat: Will Tajikistan Meaningfully Engage on Religious Freedom?
Apr 25, 2023 This op-ed was originally published by The Diplomat on April 25, 2023. By USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel & Commissioner Eric Ueland The visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion…
Religion News Service: Repression of women points to worsening religious freedom trends abroad
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…
The Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia
May 30, 2025  The governments of Central Asia—that is Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—influenced by decades of Soviet rule, maintain similar legislation to combat “extremism.” Each of these governments uses these laws…
Religious Prisoners and State Repression in Tajikistan
Dec 18, 2025  Since 2012, USCIRF has recommended Tajikistan for designation as a Country of Particular Concern for the government’s egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Among the particularly severe…
Independent Media and its Essential Role in Promoting FoRB throughout Central Asia
Apr 17, 2026  In Central Asia, independent media plays an essential role in shedding light on freedom of religion of belief (FoRB) violations. As a result, Central Asian governments attempt to silence independent journalists and bloggers to conceal…