Displaying results 1 - 100 of 277

Commission Issues Recommendations to Promote Religious Freedom in Uzbekistan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2001 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the…
Commission Says U.S. Must Press Uzbekistan on Religious Freedom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2002 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The upcoming visit of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov affords President Bush and the Secretary of State the…
Did You Know...Uzbekistan
. . . that Uzbekistan pressures neighboring Central Asian countries to return asylum seekers who have fled Uzbek government repression of their religious freedoms?Since Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, its government has systematically and…
USCIRF Letter to Secretary Kerry on the Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom sent the following letter to Secretary of State Kerry on April 12, 2013. The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: I…
USCIRF's 2013 Annual Report on the State of International Religious Freedom Identifies World's Worst Violators
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…
Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy
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…
USCIRF Welcomes IRF Report; Calls for CPC Designations
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…
CNN World -- Fight Terrorism with Religious Freedom
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…
Sri Lanka Annual Report Chapters and Translations
Title 2025 Annual Report - Sri Lanka Chapter File Upload Sri Lanka 2025 USCIRF Annual Report.pdf Language English Year 2025…
Uzbekistan: Ten Years after the Andijon Tragedy
May 13, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 13, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Andijon massacre.  On May 13, 2005, as…
The National Interest -- Where Your Religion Can Still Send You to Jail
Dec 10, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 10, 2015 | Mary Ann Glendon and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in The National Interest on December 10, 2015 December 10 marks Human Rights Day, the sixty-seventh…
USCIRF Welcomes CPC Designations: Urges Additional Designations and Actions
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,…
Religion News Service -- Today — of all days — remember the disappeared
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…
Religion News Service: Empower women by standing for religious freedom
Dec 9, 2016 The following op-ed appeared in Religion New Service on December 9, 2016 By former USCIRF Commissioners Kristina Arriaga and John Ruskay   Pwint Phyu Latt is a Muslim peace activist in Burma who sought to…
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,…
USCIRF Condemns Terrorist Attack Against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan
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…
State Department Names the World’s Worst Violators of 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…
Summer Seminar #1 -- A Foundational Human Right: Why International Religious Freedom Matters
Jun 24 WHEN: Jun 24th 6:59pm…
Testimony of Vice Chair Maenza on Global Persecution of Christians
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
Summer Seminar #2 -- Anti-Semitism: The World's Oldest Hatred — New Again?
Jul 24 WHEN: Jul 24th 1:00pm - Jul 24th 1:00pm…
USCIRF Hearing on Global Efforts to Counter Anti-Semitism
Jan 08 WHEN: Jan 8th 1:30pm…
Aramais Avakian
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Ethnic Group: Armenian Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other Reports of…
Ruhiddin Fahriddinov
Additional Name(s): Ruhiddin Fahrutdinov, Ruhiddin Fazlitdinovich Fahrutdinov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Country Update: Afghanistan
Click here to view the October 2019 Afghanistan Country Update.
Uzbekistan Country Update
Read the full report here.This report provides an assessment of religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan, where USCIRF commissioners and staff traveled twice over the course of 2019. Although Uzbekistan has taken some important initial steps to allow…
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Uzbekistan
Jan 31, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2020   USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Uzbekistan   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Briefing on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: New Policy Guidance from the OSCE
Feb 11 WHEN: Feb 11th 10:30am…
USCIRF Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack against Sikh House of Worship in Kabul
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…
Newsweek: Religious Freedom in a Changing World
Jun 7, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared on Newsweek By USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins and Vice Chair Gayle Manchin.  From the coronavirus pandemic to the use of surveillance, freedom of religion or belief…
The Diplomat: Uzbekistan Must Stay on the Path of Religious Freedom Reform
Jul 9, 2020 This op-ed originally appears in The Diplomat, on July 9, 2020. By USCIRF Commissioners Nadine Maenza and Nury Turkel For many years, Uzbekistan presented a bleak picture in a region notorious for poor human…
USCIRF Releases Report on the Anti-cult Movement and Religious Regulation in Russia and Central Asia
Jul 17, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases Report on the Anti-cult Movement and Religious Regulation in Russia and Central Asia Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Khayrullo Tursunov
Additional Name(s): Khayrullo Turdiyevich Tursunov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison No. 5 in Karshi (Shaykhali Prison) Perpetrator: Uzbekistan…
Afghanistan Annual Report Chapters and Translations
Title 2026 Annual Report - Afghanistan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Afghanistan.pdf Language English Year…
Uzbekistan Annual Report Chapters and Translations
Title 2026 Annual Report - Uzbekistan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Uzbekistan.pdf Language English Year…
Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy
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…
Webinar #5: Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List
Nov 06 WHEN: Nov 6th 2:00pm…
2018 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom
Jul 25 WHEN: Jul 25th 5:00pm - Jul 25th 7:00pm…
USCIRF Events During 2019 Ministerial
Jul 16 WHEN: Jul 16th 4:00pm - Jul 18th 2:00pm…
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing Protecting Houses of Worship and Holy Sites
Oct 23 WHEN: Oct 23rd 3:00pm…
USCIRF Update with USAID: The President’s Executive Order on International Religious Freedom
Aug 05 WHEN: Aug 5th 10:30am…
USCIRF Hearing on Religious Freedom in Russia and Central Asia
Sep 16 WHEN: Sep 16th 10:30pm - Sep 15th 12:00pm…
USCIRF Welcomes Legal Reform Efforts in Uzbekistan, Urges Conformity with International Standards
Oct 30, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Welcomes Legal Reform Efforts in Uzbekistan, Urges Conformity with International Standards WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Issue Update: The Global Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
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…
USCIRF Releases New Report about Global Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Nov 10, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Report about Global Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Violating Rights: Enforcing the World's Blasphemy Laws
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.…
2021 Update on Religious Freedom Conditions
Jan 22, 2021       Targeting of religious minorities in Russia, mass atrocities in China, Nigeria as a country of particular concern, and Antisemitism on the rise worldwide. The events of 2020 cast a long…
Uzbekistan: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Mar 11, 2021 There have been notable improvements to religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan in recent years. The government’s ongoing effort to revise the restrictive 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious…
Factsheet: Shari'a and LGBTI Persons
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…
USCIRF Releases New Report about Shari’a and LGBTI Persons
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…
Governments Using Shari’a to Impose Death Sentences on LGBTI Persons
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…
USCIRF Releases 2021 Annual Report with Recommendations for U.S. Policy
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…
2021 Annual Report
View the 2021 Annual Report          
Refugee Resettlement and 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…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Press for at the highest levels and work to secure…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Urge the Uzbek government to close the notorious…
Recommendation
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the Uzbek government to revise the 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Establish a binding agreement with the Uzbek government, as authorized under section 405(c) of IRFA, on…
Recommendation
Status: implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Press at the highest levels for the immediate release…
Recommendation
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the government of Uzbekistan to revise the 1998 religion law to comply with international…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Maintain Uzbekistan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Allocate funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Embassy in Tashkent to…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Press at the highest levels for the immediate release of individuals imprisoned for their peaceful…
Recommendation
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the government of Uzbekistan to revise the 1998 religion law and other relevant…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Uzbekistan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
USCIRF Conversation on the Exodus of Religious Minority Communities in Afghanistan
Jun 30 WHEN: Jun 30th 3:00pm - Jun 30th 4:00pm…
Do USCIRF Policy Recommendations Get Implemented?
Jun 17, 2021 The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) mandates USCIRF to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. In addition to making recommendations, USCIRF’s mandate…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
Recommendation
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…
USCIRF Concerned by New Uzbekistan Religion Law
Jul 16, 2021 USCIRF Concerned by New Uzbekistan Religion Law Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its disappointment that Uzbekistan’s new Religion Law fails to address the most serious…
The Impact of Majoritarianism on Religious Minorities in South Asia
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…
USCIRF Calls on U.S. Government to Include Religious Minority Communities in Afghanistan in Evacuations
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…
USCIRF Calls on the State Department to Prioritize Refugee Resettlement of Afghan Religious Minorities
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…
USCIRF Hearing: Strategies for Religious Freedom in Fragile States
Sep 22 WHEN: Sep 22nd 10:30am - Sep 22nd 12:00pm…
Hazara Community Threatened in Afghanistan
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…
USCIRF Conversation: Accountability for Crimes Against Humanity
Sep 30 WHEN: Sep 30th 11:00am - Sep 30th 12:00pm…
USCIRF Conversation: Update on At-Risk Religious Communities in Afghanistan
Oct 06 WHEN: Oct 6th 11:00am - Oct 6th 12:00pm…
USCIRF Conversation: New Report on Uzbekistan’s Religious Prisoners
Oct 13 WHEN: Oct 13th 2:00pm - Oct 13th 3:00pm…
Usman Darvyshov
Additional Name(s): Усмон Дарвишов, Усман Дарвышов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Fayzulla Agzamov
Additional Name(s): Fayzulla Saidkarimovich Agzamov, Файзулла Саидкаримович Агзамов, Файзулла Саидкаримович Агзамов Gender: Male Current Location: CEP 17, Karaulbazar, Bukhara…
Tohir Djumanov
Additional Name(s): Тоҳир Жуманов, Тохир Джуманов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Ravshan Kosimov
Additional Name(s): Равшан Қосимов, Равшан Косимов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…