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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2000 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240 The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote Friday, July 28 to Secretary of State Madeleine…
Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302Photo Gallery: Commission members (left to right): Richard D. Land, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Felice D. Gaer, Executive Director Steven T. McFarland,…
University of California at Los Angeles January 27, 2004 Transcript Welcome and Introductory Remarks - Michael K. Young, Commission Chair and Dean, George Washington University Law School Oral Testimony Panel One Roger…
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM "THANK YOU FATHER KIM IL SUNG" November 15, 2005 Speakers: MICHAEL CROMARTIE, THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BISHOP RICARDO RAMIREZ, THE UNITED…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2002 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration…
Transcript Introductory Remarks by Chair Michael Cromartie Introductory Remarks by Commissioner Imam Talal Y. Eid Remarks by Chair Cromartie
...that since 1945 North Korea’s once-diverse and vibrant religious community has largely disappeared?North Korea’s reactions to new sanctions, including its latest nuclear threats and declaration invalidating the 1953 Armistice ending the Korean War,…
...that two years later there still have been no prosecutions stemming from Nigeria’s presidential post-election violence that killed more than 800?In April 2011, immediately following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, more than 800 people…
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…
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 6, 2013 Beyond Boko Haram: Nigeria's History of Violence By: Tiffany Lynch  for the Council on Foreign Relations  - Posted on May 6 For almost two years, stories about violence in Nigeria have focused almost exclusively…
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…
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…
...that particularly severe religious freedom violations are increasingly perpetrated by non-state actors in failing or failed states?One of the greatest emerging threats to freedom of religion or belief comes not from the actions of governments but from…
....that Boko Haram has attacked more than 40 churches since 2012? Boko Haram, a Hausa-language name meaning “western education is a sin,” is an Islamic sect that sees the federal and northern state governments, as well as political and religious elites…
Click here to view the August 2013 Factsheet: Nigeria: Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks
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…
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 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,…
Oct 27, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 27, 2014 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in The Seattle Times on October 24, 2014 NORTH Korea’s release of Jeffrey Fowle, imprisoned for leaving…
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…
Dec 22, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 22, 2014 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the UN General Assembly’s passage on December 18 of a resolution that…
Click here to view the January 2015 Factsheet: Religious Freedom and Nigeria's 2015 Elections
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…
Nigeria will hold presidential, federal parliamentary, and state parliamentary elections on March 28, 2015. The election previously was scheduled for February 14, 2015, but was pushed back due to security concerns in the north-east region of the country.…
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…
USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George testified on October 27, 2015 before Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at a hearing titled "The Global Crisis of Religious…
Dec 9, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 9, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the United States and eight other countries for requesting a meeting of the UN Security…
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,…
Aug 30, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION August 30, 2016 | Daniel I. Mark and Sandra Jolley The following op/ed appeared in Religion News Service on August 30, 2016   (RNS) Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was a 6-year-old boy when he…
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 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…
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…
Click here to view the Policy Update: Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights in North Korea
Nov 30, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018   USCIRF Statement on Release of New Policy Update on Religious Freedom in North Korea WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
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…
The full report may be found here.   Summary of Findings   In Nigeria, a range of state and societal violations have adversely impacted religious freedom conditions in the country. As a result, since 2009, USCIRF has recommended the U.S…
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…
Feb 27, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2019     USCIRF Urges President Trump to Address Religious Freedom Abuses in North Korea WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom…
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
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Click here to view the October 2019 Afghanistan Country Update.
Additional Name(s): Ibrahim Zakzaky Gender: Male Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Health Concerns: Minor…
Additional Name(s): Zeenatudeen Gender: Female Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Reports of…
The full report may be found here.    For 20 years, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has monitored and evaluated religious freedom conditions in Nigeria. This year also marks 20 years since Nigeria’s return to…
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)…
Dec 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2019       USCIRF Disappointed UN Security Council Did Not Discuss Religious Freedom in North Korea   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on…
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…
Gender: Female Perpetrator: Islamic State - West Africa Province (ISWAP) Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other Reports of Torture…
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…
May 29, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2020 USCIRF Commissioner James Carr Adopts Deacon Zhang Wen Shi of North Korea and Pastor A Dao of Vietnam through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Washington, DC – United States Commission on…
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…
Gender: Male Current Location: Germany Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Humanist Health Concerns: High blood pressure, pain on…
Jul 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases New Report about Human Rights Advocacy and the North Korea Nuclear Impasse Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
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 2, 2020 This op-ed originally appears in The National Interest, on August 2, 2020. By USCIRF Commissioners James W. Carr and Frederick A. Davie For years, Deacon Jang Moon Seok ministered to North Koreans…
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…
Advocacy: Op-Ed: Say Her Name: Women Persecuted for Their Religion or Belief, March 8, 2022…
Advocacy: Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update, February 25, 2021…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Afghanistan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Afghanistan.pdf Language English Year…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Nigeria Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Nigeria.pdf Language English Year 2026…
Title 2026 Annual Report - North Korea Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report North Korea.pdf Language English Year…
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…
Read the full report here. Religious freedom conditions in North Korea remain among the worst in the world, yet the U.S. government for decades has tended to prioritize security concerns over human rights rather than integrating the two issues as…
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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…
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Frederick A. Davie Advocacy: Press Release: USCIRF Commissioner Davie Calls for the Immediate…
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Frederick A. Davie Advocacy: Press Release: USCIRF Condemns Mubarak Bala Prison Sentence, Calls for…
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…
This factsheet explores the role that religion plays in escalating violence committed by and against Fulani communities in west and central Africa. Predominantly Muslim and historically associated with cattle herding and livestock rearing, Fulani…
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)…
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Oct 16, 2020     Welcome to USCIRF's new series! In USCIRF Spotlight, we discuss major topics in the news and explore how they impact religious freedom around the globe. For this week's episode, listen to what our…
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…
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…
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.…
Nigeria Country Update – This country update examines religious freedom conditions in Nigeria, which remained poor in 2020. Ongoing state violations include harsh convictions for blasphemy, and discrimination against religious minorities. Non-…
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…
Jan 15, 2021   In December 2020, the U.S. Department of State designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for the first time ever due to systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious…
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi Reports of Torture: No Reports of Medical Neglect…
Additional Name(s): Jang Moon Seok Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
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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…
Northern Nigeria Factsheet – Violent Islamist groups based in northern Nigeria remain some of the deadliest and most formidable jihadist groups operating in the world today. Estimates suggest that conflict with groups like Boko Haram and the…