Search
Displaying results 1 - 100 of 167
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…
USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett gave the following remarks at a conference, cosponsored by USCIRF and the National Endowment for Democracy on May 7, 2013Introduction
Thank you for that kind introduction.
It truly is a pleasure to join you today at the…
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…
The Christian Science Monitor -- JFK's call for religious freedom can transform places like Pakistan
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…
Title
2025 Annual Report - Sri Lanka Chapter
File Upload
Sri Lanka 2025 USCIRF Annual Report.pdf
Language
English
Year
2025…
The report documents ASEAN’s and the Member States’ approaches to the freedom of religion or belief, underscores the religious freedom-related challenges in the region that transcend country borders, and emphasizes the strategic importance of robust U.S…
Jul 3, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2018
USCIRF Condemns Terrorist Attack Against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan
Chair Dorjee said, “This attack is yet another reminder of the crucial link between security and religious…
Jun 24
WHEN:
Jun 24th 6:59pm…
On June 27, 2019, Vice Chair Nadine Maenza testified at a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on violations of the right to freedom of religion of Christian communities around the world.Written Testimony
Hearing Webpage
Jul 24
WHEN:
Jul 24th 1:00pm
-
Jul 24th 1:00pm…
Click here to view the October 2019 Factsheet on Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia.
Oct 17, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2019
USCIRF Releases New Reports on Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Iran
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am…
Mar 25, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2020
USCIRF Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack against Sikh House of Worship in Kabul
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly…
Jun 23, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Urges Thailand and Malaysia to Protect Rohingya Muslim Refugees Stranded at Sea
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on the…
Jul 28, 2020
This op-ed originally appeared in The Diplomat, on July 28, 2020.
By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and Commissioner James W. Carr
Several airlines offer direct flights from Burma to Malaysia, but many Rohingya…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Afghanistan Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Afghanistan.pdf
Language
English
Year…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Malaysia Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Malaysia.pdf
Language
English
Year
2026…
May 7, 2013
USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett gave the following remarks at a conference, cosponsored by USCIRF and the National Endowment for Democracy on May 7, 2013
Introduction
Thank you for that kind introduction.
It…
Oct 23
WHEN:
Oct 23rd 3:00pm…
Aug 05
WHEN:
Aug 5th 10:30am…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Malaysia
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment:
February/13/2017…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Malaysia
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of Medical…
Click here to view the Rohingya Refugees Factsheet.
This factsheet highlights the conditions of Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia. While the majority of Rohingya refugees have fled from Burma to Bangladesh, a significant number have escaped to…
Oct 8, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Releases Factsheet on Rohingya Refugees in Southeast Asia
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on…
Read the full Issue Update:
The Global Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
This update describes official discrimination against Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world, with a particular focus on countries where members have been imprisoned for…
Advocacy:
Press Release: USCIRF Calls Attention to Pastor Raymond Koh on 5th Anniversary of Disappearance, February 11, 2022…
Nov 23, 2020
USCIRF Commissioner Jim Carr Adopts Pastor Raymond Koh through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Jim…
Click here to view the report Violating Rights: Enforcing the World’s Blasphemy Laws
USCIRF’s groundbreaking report examines the enforcement of blasphemy laws worldwide. Blasphemy laws criminalize expressions that insults or offends religious doctrines.…
Feb 25
WHEN:
Feb 25th 11:00am
-
Feb 25th 12:30pm…
Factsheet on Shari’a and LGBTI Persons – In some countries around the world, criminal laws provide for the death penalty based on religious interpretations. This factsheet highlights countries with death penalty laws that target the LGBTI community…
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…
Mar 26, 2021
In some countries around the world, religion-based laws are used by governments to impose capital punishment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. All of the 10 countries…
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 30, 2021
The program to resettle refugees to the United States has existed since 1980, with strong bipartisan support. Earlier this month, President Biden signed an emergency declaration to speed up refugee admissions into…
Jun 30
WHEN:
Jun 30th 3:00pm
-
Jun 30th 4:00pm…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Request that the Malaysian government clarify administrative procedures and develop tangible mechanisms for individuals to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Press the Malaysian government to remove the religion field from national ID cards and allow for…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Urge the Malaysian government to facilitate independent institutions, including the judiciary, in…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: RPOCs
Recommendation:Urge the Malaysian government to acknowledge all peaceful religious activity as legitimate and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Special Watch List
Recommendation:Include Malaysia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Technical Assistance
Recommendation:As part of U.S. support to build capacity for Malaysian law enforcement, fund and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: IVLP
Recommendation:Expand the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to include bringing Malaysian lawyers…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Special Watch List
Recommendation:Include Malaysia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Technical Assistance
Recommendation:Fund and implement training on community-based policing between the U.S.…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: RPOCs
Recommendation:Urge the Malaysian government to repeal the federal and state-level laws criminalizing blasphemy…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Malaysia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Diplomacy
Recommendation:Work with Malaysia and regional partners to ensure the safety of migrants and refugees,…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Press the Afghan government to acknowledge the significant threat to freedom of religion or belief posed…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Press the Afghan government to acknowledge the significant threat to freedom of religion or belief posed…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure the integration of religious freedom concerns with related issues such as countering religious extremism and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure the integration of religious freedom concerns with related issues such as countering religious extremism and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Urge the Afghan government to revoke the 2004 media law prohibiting “un-Islamic” writings and overturn…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Afghanistan Government
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Urge the Afghan government to revoke the 2004 media law prohibiting “un-Islamic” writings and overturn…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage the Afghan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Culture to ensure—and, if possible, in…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Afghanistan Government
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage the Afghan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Culture to ensure—and, if…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage the Afghan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Culture to create a civic…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage the Afghan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Culture to advocate for the…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Afghanistan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure that protections for freedom of religion or belief are integrated into any future negotiations…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Houses of Worship
Recommendation:Integrate religious freedom concerns, including the protection of houses of…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage the Afghan Ministries of Education, Information and Culture, and Hajj and Religious Affairs to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should appropriate funding specifically for the protection of freedom of religion or belief in…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Afghanistan on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Incorporate protections for freedom of religion or belief into U.S.-supported peace negotiations between…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Houses of Worship
Recommendation:Integrate religious freedom concerns, including the protection of houses of…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Facilitate cooperation between faith leaders and scholars of all religions in Afghanistan to foster…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Afghanistan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should appropriate funding specifically for the protection of freedom of religion or belief in…
Aug 19, 2021
We have seen a significant deterioration in religious freedom conditions in South Asia in recent years. Blasphemy cases, forced conversions, attacks on houses of worship, hate speech, and violence targeting…
Aug 20, 2021
USCIRF Calls on U.S. Government to Include Religious Minority Communities in Afghanistan in Evacuations
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on the United States government to include…
Aug 23, 2021
USCIRF Calls on the State Department to Prioritize Refugee Resettlement of Afghan Religious Minorities
Encourages Expansion of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Priority 2 Designation
Washington, DC – The U.S…
Sep 22
WHEN:
Sep 22nd 10:30am
-
Sep 22nd 12:00pm…
Sep 17, 2021
When Afghanistan was under Taliban control in 1996-2001, the Taliban discriminated against and violently persecuted the Hazara Shi’a community—which they labeled as “heretical.” Subsequently, the Hazara community…
Sep 30
WHEN:
Sep 30th 11:00am
-
Sep 30th 12:00pm…
Oct 06
WHEN:
Oct 6th 11:00am
-
Oct 6th 12:00pm…
Oct 15, 2021
USCIRF Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attacks on Shi’a Mosques in Afghanistan
Reiterates Call for State Department to Include Afghan Religious Minorities in U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Priority 2 Designation…
This factsheet documents and contextualizes recent religious freedom violations against Ahmadiyya Muslims, shining a light on the worrying trend of growing state persecution of members of this community. Ahmadiyya Muslims face persecution and…
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…
Sri Lanka is a diverse country where complex ethno-religious divisions contribute to tension among the various communities. Despite protections guaranteed by the constitution and international law, Muslims and other religious minorities suffer abusive…
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…
This report catalogues deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country on August 15, 2021. Afghans who do not adhere to the Taliban’s harsh and strict interpretation of Islam, as well as those who…
Oct 28, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Minorities in Afghanistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Afghanistan…
Nov 5, 2021
USCIRF Releases Factsheet Reiterating its Recommendations for State Department CPC and SWL Designations
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the…
Some of the gravest threats to FoRB in recent years have come not from government actions, but from non-state actors. In recognition of this threat, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, which amended the International Religious…
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…
This country update assesses religious freedom conditions in Malaysia during 2021. Malaysia has witnessed unprecedented political instability in recent years—starting on February 24, 2020, with the sudden collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition and…
Nov 10, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Malaysia
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious…
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…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Malaysia
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports…
Gender:
Female
Perpetrator:
Malaysia
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports…
Feb 02
WHEN:
Feb 2nd 11:00am
-
Feb 2nd 12:00pm…
Jan 28, 2022
The situation for the Christian community in Afghanistan has grown ever more perilous since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. There have been accounts of the Taliban going door to door seeking…
Feb 11, 2022
USCIRF Calls Attention to Pastor Raymond Koh on 5th Anniversary of Disappearance
Washington, DC – The U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called for answers on the disappearance of Pastor…
Mar 1, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on March 1, 2022
By USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie
Last August was a life changing moment for the world, as the Taliban…
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…