Displaying results 1 - 9 of 9

Shifting Trends of Religious Freedom in Egypt
Mar 19, 2021 Egypt has historically faced many challenges to religious freedom. There has been recurring violence and discrimination against Coptic Christians, who represent 10-15% of the population, as well as other…
Qur’anists in Egypt
Jul 23, 2021 Egypt is home to over 100 million people—of which the majority identify as Sunni Muslim with a significant Coptic Christian minority. A variety of smaller religious minorities also call Egypt home such as Baha’is,…
Ahmadiyya Muslims Face Persecution, Discrimination, and Hostility
Oct 22, 2021 The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 in Punjab, India and today has an estimated tens of millions of members globally. Because of the differences between Ahmadiyya beliefs and beliefs in Sunni and Shi…
Political Instability Fuels Decline for Religious Freedom in Malaysia
Nov 12, 2021 Malaysia has experienced unprecedented political instability in recent years. During this time, Malaysian authorities from various political parties in several states and the federal government have continued to pursue policies to further…
The Impact of Malaysia’s Dual Legal System on Religious Freedom
Aug 11, 2022 Malaysia maintains a unique dual legal system divided into civil and religious courts. In recent decades, the influence of these religious courts, which are based on the Shaf’i school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence…
The Legacy of Blasphemy Laws in Southeast Asia
Oct 21, 2022 Seven out of ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations have blasphemy laws currently enshrined in their legal codes. USCIRF’s recent issue update reviews these blasphemy laws and their enforcement within this…
Differences Between Religious Tolerance and Religious Freedom
Jan 5, 2023 Authoritarian states promote religious tolerance without necessarily ensuring freedom of religion or belief. Last month, USCIRF released a report distinguishing between these two concepts and explains the origins of religious tolerance…
Egypt's Continued Repression of Religious Minorities
Dec 30, 2025  The Egyptian government continues to systematically restrict freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) by enforcing laws, policies, and judicial decisions that repress non-Muslim and Muslim religious minority communities. Such FoRB violations…
Religious Freedom Under Threat: Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia
Mar 23, 2026  On November 5, 2025, the High Court ruled in favor of the family of missing Pastor Raymond Koh, finding the Malaysian government and police liable for his abduction and enforced disappearance in 2017. While the court’s decision brought…