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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,…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
Aug 24, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the violations of religious freedom and human rights taking place in Azerbaijan.…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am…
Mar 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2020
USCIRF Delegation Travels to Azerbaijan to Assess Religious Freedom Conditions
Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Vice Chairs…
Read the full report here.This report is an examination of religious freedom conditions in Nicaragua following the outbreak of anti-government protests in April 2018 that continue to occur around the country. Throughout this political crisis, the Catholic…
Mar 11, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Nicaragua
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
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…
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 20, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by The Washington Examiner, on July 20, 2020.
By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins
In Iraq, the 50th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces has…
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…
Advocacy:
Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update, February 25, 2021…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Azerbaijan Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Azerbaijan.pdf
Language
English
Year…
Title
2026 Annual Report - North Korea Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report North Korea.pdf
Language
English
Year…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Nicaragua Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Nicaragua.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…
Conscientious objection to military service is frequently connected to freedom of religion or belief, as many conscientious objectors are motivated by deeply-held religious beliefs. The right to conscientious objection is recognized under international…
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…
Aug 05
WHEN:
Aug 5th 10:30am…
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 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…
Additional Name(s):
Jang Moon Seok
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
North Korea
Ethnic Group:
Korean
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant…
This report evaluates trends relevant to freedom of religion or belief in Azerbaijan since USCIRF commissioners and staff traveled to the country in early 2020. In recent years, Azerbaijan has implemented some changes that have marked an improvement in…
Mar 18, 2021
USCIRF Releases Country Update on Azerbaijan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a country update on religious freedom conditions in Azerbaijan:…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
North Korea
Ethnic Group:
Korean
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
North Korea
Ethnic Group:
Korean
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
North Korea
Ethnic Group:
Korean
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Health Concerns:
Stomach issues…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
North Korea
Ethnic Group:
Korean
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture…
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…
May 17, 2021
USCIRF Concerned by Azerbaijan Religion Law Amendments, Condition of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned that proposed…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure continued U.S. funding for Radio Azadliq, the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and the Azerbaijani Service of the…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: USAID
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Specify freedom of religion or belief as a grant category and area of activity for the U.S. Agency for …
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Government of Azerbaijan
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience
Recommendation:Release prisoners of conscience—particularly those…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Government of Azerbaijan
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Permit all religious communities—particularly those located outside of Baku and those belonging to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Government of Azerbaijan
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Reform the 2009 law on religious organizations to bring it into conformity with recommendations by the…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should hold public hearings to investigate Azerbaijan’s religious freedom and broader human rights…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Assist the government of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with international partners, to develop an…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Work with the government of Azerbaijan to revise the 2009 religion law to comply with international human…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Azerbaijan on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should hold public hearings to investigate Azerbaijan’s religious freedom and broader human rights…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Allocate funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Embassy in Baku to restore, preserve,…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Assist the Azerbaijani government, in collaboration with international partners, to develop an alternative…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Work with the government of Azerbaijan to revise the 2009 religion law to comply with international human…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Azerbaijan
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Include Azerbaijan on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Freedom of Information
Recommendation:Expand existing radio programming transmitted into North Korea and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Security and Human Rights
Recommendation:Include, whenever possible, both the Special Envoy and the…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Fill the current vacancy and maintain the Special Envoy for North Korean t g human rights issues as a full-time…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Sanctions
Recommendation:Make any future discussions regarding the easing or lifting of sanctions…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Pressure the North Korean governmen to grant international human rights monitors unfettered access to document…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Work with the administration to clarify the conditions under which Congress would approve the partial or complete lifting…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Freedom of Information
Recommendation:Instruct the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s Open Technology Fund to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Urge the North Korean government to grant international human rights monitors unfettered access to document…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Fill the current vacancy and maintain the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues as a fulltime,…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: CPC status
Recommendation:Redesignate North Korea as a CPC
Actions Taken:The DPRK was…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: Congress
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Sanctions
Recommendation:Work with the administration to clarify the conditions under which Congress would approve…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Sanctions
Recommendation:Integrate security and human rights as complementary objectives in U.S. policy…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: United Nations
Recommendation:Urge the North Korean government to grant international human rights…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Thematic Area: Government positions
Recommendation:Fill and maintain the position of Special Envoy for North Korean…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: North Korea
Recommended To: U.S. Department of State
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Designate North Korea as a CPC
Aug 18
WHEN:
Aug 18th 11:00am
-
Aug 18th 12:00pm…
This report documents the North Korean government’s religious freedom violations based on primary information gathered over the past year from in-person interviews with North Korean defectors who are survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators of these…
Aug 18, 2021
USCIRF Releases Report Highlighting Religious Freedom Violations in North Korea
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a new report titled “Organized…
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…
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…
Additional Name(s):
Movsum Mardan oglu Samadov
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a…
Additional Name(s):
Abgul Suleymanov, Abgul Neymat oglu Suleymanov
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a…
Additional Name(s):
Elshan Mustafaoglu Mustafayev
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a…
Additional Name(s):
Elvin Mürvətoğlu
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a
Reports…
Additional Name(s):
Ahsan Muzaffar oglu Nuruzade
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a…
Feb 4, 2022
The government of Nicaragua, under the leadership of President Daniel Ortega, has a history of persecuting Catholic clergy, worshipers, and organizations as well as Protestant institutions especially since religious leaders provided sanctuary…