Displaying results 1 - 100 of 126

USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett made the following remarks at the announcement of the Defending Freedoms Project on December 6, 2012, a project of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with USCIRF and Amnesty International USA.  …
Mar 18, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMarch 18, 2013| By: Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser The following op-ed appeared in Roll Call on March 15, 2013. While the world remains riveted to Egypt"s challenges and Syria"s…
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…
…that the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with USCIRF and Amnesty International USA, has launched the Defending Freedoms Project to increase attention to and support for human rights and religious freedom around the world?Through the…
Jun 26, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJune 26, 2013 |By Katrina Lantos Swett Editor"s note: Katrina Lantos Swett is the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The views expressed are the writer"s own. The…
Jul 26, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Kazakh government reportedly soon will try two activists for their religious freedom-related activities. Atheist blogger Aleksandr Kharlamov, 63, had been held for four…
Apr 14, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONApril 14, 2014 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser The following op-ed appeared in the Global Post on April 10, 2014. WASHINGTON — Last week's Formula 1 automotive racing event…
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…
Jan 08 WHEN: Jan 8th 1:30pm…
Click here to view USCIRF's 2019 Kazakhstan Country Update.
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 13, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  February 13, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Reports on Religious Freedom Conditions in Bahrain and Iraq Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Read the full report here.This report highlights improvements and notes areas of concern regarding religious freedom in Bahrain in 2019. While Bahrain continues to allow freedom of worship to most religious groups, Shi’a Bahrainis face systematic and…
Additional Name(s): Bolatbek Dyusenbekovich Nurgaliyev Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Ernar Samatovich Samatov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Beket Tastanbekovich Mynbasov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Jun 9, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Commends Bahrain for Release of Prisoner of Conscience Nabeel Rajab Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commended the government of…
Title Bahrain Chapter - 2020 Arabic Translation File Upload Bahrain_Arabic_0.pdf Language Arabic Year 2020…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Kazakhstan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Kazakhstan.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…
Nov 06 WHEN: Nov 6th 2:00pm…
Jul 25 WHEN: Jul 25th 5:00pm - Jul 25th 7:00pm…
Jul 16 WHEN: Jul 16th 4:00pm - Jul 18th 2:00pm…
Sep 16 WHEN: Sep 16th 10:30pm - Sep 15th 12:00pm…
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…
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.…
Click here for the Bahrain Country Update  This country update examines religious freedom conditions in Bahrain. Throughout 2020, Bahrain continued to systematically restrict religious freedom for its Shi’a Muslim population. The government…
Dec 17, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Bahrain Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious…
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…
View the 2021 Annual Report          
Jun 4, 2021 For the first time in years, Bahrain was not included in the list of countries that USCIRF recommends for the State Department’s Special Watch List (SWL). The government of Bahrain has made incremental improvements…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Recommendation:Urge the Bahraini government to clarify the terms and enforcement of the 2016 amendment to article 5 of the 2005 Political…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the Bahraini government to continue to implement reforms consistent with the Bahrain Indepen-dent Commission of…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Recommendation:Press the Bahraini government to enforce existing laws, including Royal Decree 36 of 2012 and Royal Decree 95 of 2018,…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Recommendation:Continue to train security officials, prosecutors, and judges to better address sectarian violence and incitement by enhancing…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Recommendation:Press Bahrain’s government to ensure freedom of religion and reduce sec-tarian incitement by passing the bill pending in the…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Bahrain Country Update Recommendation:Release an updated assessment of the Bahraini government’s implementation of the BICI reportrecommendations, with a…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Bahrain Country Update Recommendation:Continue to provide guidance and training for Bahrain’s security services to prepare for Ashura observances in ways…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: U.S. Congress Source: 2019 Bahrain Country Update Recommendation:Continue to conduct periodic fact-finding missions and congressional delegation trips to Bahrain to assess religious…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Recommendation:Include Bahrain on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Recommendation:Publish an updated assessment of Bahrain’s compliance with the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report, with…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Recommendation:Continue to provide guidance and training for Bahrain’s security services to prepare for Ashura observances in ways that protect…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: U.S. Congress Source: 2020 Annual Report Recommendation:Highlight in religious freedom and human rights-related hearings and other official proceedings Bahrain’s treatment of…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Bahrain Country Update Recommendation:The United States should continue to raise these restrictions on religious freedom with Bahrain’s government…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Bahrain Recommended To: U.S. Congress Recommendation:When the next administration nominates a new U.S. ambassador to Bahrain, Congress should examine as part of the confirmation process what steps they will take…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Prioritize religious freedom and related human rights into the U.S.-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership Dialogue and…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Repeal or amend its religious registration laws, which are frequently used to harass and prosecute religious…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: Other Governments Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Strategy:USCIRF advocates this recommendation with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.--Kazakhstan Religious Freedom…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: Other Governments Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Provide an alternative to military service for conscientious objectors; Strategy:USCIRF advocates this…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Encourage the Kazakhstani government to open the Congress of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Ensure continued U.S. funding for Radio Azattyq, the Kazakh service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), so…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Kazakhstan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Open the Congress of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to representatives of all faiths in…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Ensure continued U.S. funding for Radio Azattyq, the Kazakh service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, to allow for…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Kazakhstan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating violations…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Kazakhstan Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Continue engaging with the Kazakhstani government through the U.S.-Kazakhstan Religious Freedom Working Group to…
Aug 6, 2021 The Kazakhstani government is implementing promising reforms that could make Kazakhstan Central Asia’s leading example of religious freedom. USCIRF has recommended the U.S. State Department place…
Additional Name(s): Nazim Alimzhanovich Abdrakhmanov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Samat Asylkhanovich Adilov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Zhasulan Meiramovich Iskakov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Esim Kadirzhumanovich Suleimenov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Azamat Gaidarovich Umbetaliyev Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Zhuldyzbek Abikenovich Taurbekov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni Health Concerns…
Additional Name(s): Dilmurat Makhamatov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Ethnic Group: Uzbek Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Galymzhan Ramazanovich Abilkairov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Abdukhalil Abdukhamidovich Abduzhabbarov Gender: Male Current Location: Kyzylorda Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief…
Additional Name(s): Nariman Kabdyrakhmanovich Seytzhanov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
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 16, 2021 The United Nations marks November 16 each year as the International Day for Tolerance. Religious tolerance is one key component of tolerance overall. Governments in the Middle East have increasingly espoused a doctrine of religious tolerance…
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…
Additional Name(s): Дадаш Мәженовтің Gender: Male Current Location: ZK-169/1 Prison, Kyzylorda Perpetrator: Kazakhstan Religion or Belief:…
Sep 16, 2022 In 2018, Kazakhstan arrested a group of men for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam and sentenced them to multiple years in prison on fictitious terrorism and incitement-related charges. Last fall,…
Additional Name(s): Anatoli Pavlovich Zernichenko Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison No. 11, Shymkent Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Tolerance, Religious Freedom, and Authoritarianism – This report details how authoritarian states promote religious tolerance without necessarily ensuring freedom of religion or belief. It distinguishes between these two concepts and explains the…
Dec 13, 2022 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Tolerance Promotion and Religious Freedom Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report: Tolerance, Religious Freedom…
This report provides an overview of Kazakhstan’s religion law and its recent amendments to that law, and details how authorities use this legislation to target and regulate religious groups. Amendments passed in December 2021 did not reflect Kazakhstan’…
Dec 22, 2022 USCIRF Releases Report on Religion Law Amendments in Kazakhstan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report: Kazakhstan Issue Update – This report provides an…
Jan 5, 2023 Authoritarian states promote religious tolerance without necessarily ensuring freedom of religion or belief. Last month, USCIRF released a report distinguishing between these two concepts and explains the origins of religious tolerance…
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…
Jun 15, 2023 USCIRF Delegation Travels to Kazakhstan to Assess Religious Freedom Conditions Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Nury Turkel and staff traveled to Almaty and Astana,…