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…
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
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)…
Oct 30, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2019
USCIRF Alarmed Over Systematic Church Closures in Algeria
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned by…
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
…
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…
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…
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…
Jan 25, 2021
USCIRF Troubled by Escalating Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Algeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by reports of escalating repression…
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…
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,…
Jun 23, 2021
USCIRF Condemns Recent Court Decisions in Algeria Against Christians
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned several court decisions in Algeria that restrict Christians’ religious…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Algeria on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage U.S. Embassy officials to meet with the National Commission for Non-Muslim Religious Groups and other relevant…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage U.S. Embassy officials to attend and observe court proceedings on church closures and against Ahmadiyya Muslims to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Monitor the impact of changes in the new constitution regarding freedom of conscience and advocate that the government…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: U.S. Congress
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Hold public hearings to encourage Algeria to reverse decisions that have led to religious freedom violations and reform…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Algeria on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Encourage U.S. Embassy officials to meet with the Commission for Non-Muslim Religious Groups to clarify and assess its process…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Algeria
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Condition future cultural exchange programs between the United States and Algeria on the improvement of religious freedom…
Destruction of Cemeteries – This factsheet outlines international human rights law that defines the obligations of governments to protect the cultural heritage of religious communities’ cemeteries. Additionally, it describes specific examples…
Sep 1, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Factsheet on Destruction of Cemeteries
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on the destruction of…
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…
This country update examines religious freedom conditions in Algeria, which have deteriorated to a degree that has led USCIRF to recommend that the U.S State Department include Algeria on its Special Watch List since 2020. Although Algeria’s…
Oct 19, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Algeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Algeria…
This report documents trends in religious freedom violations against Muslims during the last two years. While many Muslims in Africa practice their faith in peace and harmony, some Muslims have been denied their freedom of religion or belief across the…
Oct 20, 2021
USCIRF Releases Report Highlighting Religious Freedom Violations against Muslims in Africa
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new…
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…
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…
Nov 5, 2021
In recent years, Algerian authorities have shown more hostility towards religious minorities, forcibly closing dozens of Protestant churches and prosecuting Ahmadiyya Muslims for gathering without authorization for…
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…
Nov 17, 2021
USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom
Welcomes State Department’s Additional Designations of Russia and Algeria
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious…
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…
Apr 16, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by USA Today on April 16, 2022.
By USCIRF Commissioners Jim Carr and Fred Davie
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has long advocated for the…
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…
View the 2022 Annual Report
Highlights from USCIRF’s 2022 Annual Report
Numbers-at-a-Glance
15 countries recommended for “country of particular concern” (CPC) designation
1 new country recommended for CPC designation
12…
Apr 25, 2022
This op-ed was originally published by The Hill on April 25, 2022.
By USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and Vice Chair Nury Turkel
As the world is trying to resume some semblance of normalcy, it is abundantly clear that…
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…
This report reviews blasphemy laws and their enforcement within the region of the Associate of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), highlighting recent cases and providing analysis on related laws. Blasphemy is defined as “the act of insulting or showing…
Oct 19, 2022
USCIRF Releases New Report on Blasphemy in Southeast Asia
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Blasphemy and Related Laws in ASEAN Member Countries…
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…
This factsheet highlights Algerian laws that pose risks to freedom of religion or belief. This report summarizes the intersection of law, religion, and politics in recent Algerian history. It highlights aspects of Algerian law that are inconsistent with…
Nov 4, 2022
USCIRF Releases New Report on Law and Religion in Algeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious freedom conditions in Algeria:
Law and…
Feb 10, 2023
In recent years USCIRF has reported that religious freedom conditions in Algeria have continued to deteriorate with the government increasingly enforcing blasphemy laws and restricting worship. These laws particularly impact religious…
May 1, 2023
USCIRF Releases 2023 Annual Report Highlighting Worsening Religious Freedom Conditions Around the World
Includes new recommendations of Cuba and Nicaragua as Countries of Particular Concern and Sri Lanka for the Special Watch List
Washington,…
View the 2023 Annual Report
Highlights from USCIRF’s 2023 Annual Report
Numbers-at-a-Glance
17 countries recommended for “country of particular concern” (CPC) designation
2 new countries recommended for CPC designation
11…
May 15, 2023
USCIRF Welcomes the Release of State Department’s 2022 International Religious Freedom Report
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the State Department…
This comprehensive report explores the bureaucratization of religion in four countries in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. This bureaucratization is a phenomenon that occurs through the use of administrative mechanisms to…
Sep 7, 2023
USCIRF Releases Report on The Bureaucratization of Religion in Southeast Asia
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
The Bureaucratization of Religion…
Sep 14, 2023
USCIRF Releases Updated Blasphemy Factsheet and Blasphemy Law Compendium
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released two new reports:
Legislation Factsheet on Blasphemy – This…
In October 1998, the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) elevated freedom of religion or belief as a U.S. foreign policy priority. This landmark law mandates that U.S. policy include condemning violations of religious freedom abroad and assisting…
This report documents the text of the 73 national anti-conversion laws on the books around the world. In total, 46 countries have at least one national anti-conversion law in force. Four types of national anti-conversion laws are documented: anti-…
Nov 28, 2023
USCIRF Releases Report on National Level Anti-Conversion Laws around the World
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Compendium of National Anti-…
Jan 4, 2024
USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern
Azerbaijan Added to State Department’s Special Watch List
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on…