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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today wrote to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with recommendations for a…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2001
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - With Muslim-Christian violence flaring yet again in Indonesia, the U.S. Commission on International Religious…
November 14, 2011The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
On behalf of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), allow me to wish you a safe and productive visit to Indonesia for the East Asia…
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…
Click here to view the October 2013 Factsheet: Indonesia: A New Culture of Intolerance Threatens Religious Minorities
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…
Nov 30, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONNovember 30, 2015 | M. Zuhdi Jasser and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in The Christian Science Monitor on November 30, 2015
Pope Francis arrived yesterday in the troubled…
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,…
May 4, 2016
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
May 4, 2016 | Robert P. George and Hannah Rosenthal
The following op/ed appeared in USA Today on May 3, 2016
Should it be a crime to deny the existence of God?
In the Russian city…
INDONESIA: USCIRF Denounces the Recent Conviction and Sentencing of Jakarta’s Governor for Blasphemy
May 12, 2017
INDONESIA: USCIRF Denounces the Recent Conviction and Sentencing of Jakarta’s Governor for BlasphemyUSCIRF Calls for the Release of Those Accused of or Convicted of Blasphemy
Washington, D.C. – The U.S.…
Sep 18, 2017
The following op-ed appeared in The Hill on September 18, 2017
By former USCIRF Commissioners Sandra Jolley and Jackie Wolcott
Addressing religious freedom violations is always hard, but when…
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…
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 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…
Jan 24, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2019
USCIRF Welcomes Release of Jailed Jakarta Governor; Denounces Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Feb 8, 2019
This op-ed was originally published by The Globe Post on February 8, 2019.
By Gayle Manchin and Nadine Maenza
Recently, Grace Natalie, head and founder of the young and progressive Indonesian…
Apr 18, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2019
Religious Extremists Exploit Blasphemy Laws in Indonesian Election, Says USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC – Following the completion of Indonesia’s April 17 general elections…
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…
Click here to view the Indonesia Policy Update.
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
…
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am…
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…
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 14, 2020
This op-ed originally appeared in The Globe Post, on August 14, 2020.
By USCIRF Vice Chairs Anurima Bhargava and Tony Perkins
Over half-a-million Central Africans remain displaced outside of their country,…
Title
2023 Annual Report - Central African Republic Chapter
File Upload
Central African Republic (CAR).pdf
Language
English
Year…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Indonesia Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Indonesia.pdf
Language
English
Year
2026…
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…
Oct 23
WHEN:
Oct 23rd 3:00pm…
Dec 10
WHEN:
Dec 10th 9:30pm…
Aug 05
WHEN:
Aug 5th 10:30am…
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)…
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…
Dec 7, 2020
There are 84 countries across the globe with criminal blasphemy laws on the books as of 2020. While only a handful of countries enforce these laws, there are still 84 countries in which a…
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.…
Dec 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
USCIRF Releases Groundbreaking Report on the Enforcement of Blasphemy Laws Globally
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a…
Pancasila is a founding concept of Indonesia, comprising of five principles: monotheism, civilized humanity, national unity, deliberative democracy, and social justice. As Indonesia has witnessed the rise of Islamist extremist activities and sentiment…
Mar 12, 2021
USCIRF Releases Factsheet on Indonesia’s State Ideology of Pancasila
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on the ongoing religious freedom…
Apr 9, 2021
Pancasila is a founding concept of Indonesia, comprising of five principles: monotheism, civilized humanity, national unity, deliberative democracy, and social justice. This concept came about at the onset of…
Apr 19, 2021
Read full article
This op-ed was originally published by Washington Examiner, on April 15, 2021.
Written by Commissioners Frederick A. Davie and James W. Carr.
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 27, 2021
Blasphemy laws criminalize expression that insults or offends religious doctrines. Such laws are often used to restrict freedom of religion or belief. As of 2020, 84 countries still had blasphemy laws. The severity…
Nonbelievers in Africa Factsheet – This factsheet assesses conditions for nonbelievers in Africa, which includes those who identify as atheist, agnostic, freethinker, humanist, secularist, and individuals who do not identify with any religion. Evidence…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Funding
Recommendation:Prioritize funding for programs that improve the capacity of civil society and the media to…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Terrorism
Recommendation:Focus U.S. government funding for deradicalization efforts in Indonesia on teachers,…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Funding
Recommendation:Ensure that U.S.-funded programs for Indonesian police and counterterrorism officials…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Special Watch List
Recommendation:Include Indonesia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to revise the draft Criminal Code bill to remove criminal…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: U.S. Agency for International Development
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Funding
Recommendation:Incorporate training on international human rights standards related…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Multilateral Institutions
Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to take the lead on human rights and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: U.S. Congress
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Support measures such as H.Res.512 and S.Res.458, which urge the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Special Watch List
Recommendation:Include Indonesia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for…
Status:
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to revise the draft Criminal Code bill to remove criminal sanctions for…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Laws
Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to repeal or revise existing legislation and regulations on…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: U.S. Agency for International Development
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Funding
Recommendation:Incorporate training on international human rights standards related…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Indonesia
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Thematic Area: Multilateral Institutions
Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to take the regional lead on human rights…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Include on the Special Watch List
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Establish high-level panel on human rights protection with international stakeholders and CAR authorities…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Fund justice programs, including the SCC
Status: partially_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Assist CAR government in ensuring Muslims have a future in the country
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2020 Annual Report
Recommendation:Increase humanitarian assistance
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Increase engagement with CAR authorities, the United Nations (UN), and international donors to ensure that…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Assisting the UN Security Council in sanctioning armed actors responsible for organizing and/or engaging in…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Funding programs to reestablish and professionalize CAR’s judiciary and to support the Special Criminal Court (…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Press CAR authorities to undertake initiatives to ensure that Muslims have a future in the country by:…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Central African Republic
Recommended To: State Department
Source: 2019 Annual Report
Recommendation:Increase funding for peace and security initiatives; bolster humanitarian assistance for refugees, IDPs,…
This country update examines recent progress made and ongoing challenges in CAR. Due to peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts, sectarian violence and religious targeting reduced in CAR in 2020. However, Central African religious minorities…
Jun 28, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Central African Republic
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new…
Jul 9, 2021
In 2015, USCIRF for the first time recommended the Central African Republic (CAR) be designated by the State Department a Country of Particular Concern for systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious…
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…
Dec 07
WHEN:
Dec 7th 10:00am
-
Dec 7th 11:00am…
Jan 21, 2022
Across central and eastern Africa there are many dynamics at play, including political crises and violent insurgencies, both of which pose challenges to freedom of religion or belief. These trends and developments…
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…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Indonesia
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Indonesia
Religion or Belief:
Unspecified
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of Medical Neglect…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Indonesia
Religion or Belief:
Unspecified
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of Medical Neglect…
Additional Name(s):
Muhammad Kace
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Indonesia
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Indonesia
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of…
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…
Apr 26, 2022
On April 25, 2022, USCIRF released its 2022 Annual Report, which documents developments in international religious freedom from 2021. The report provides recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s promotion…
This factsheet highlights the global scale of religious persecution by providing an overview of contexts where large populations have been displaced due to persecution or violence based on religion or belief, including in Afghanistan, Burma, the Central…
Jun 16, 2022
USCIRF began monitoring religious freedom conditions in Central African Republic (CAR) in 2013 when the country descended into civil conflict. After seven years of recommending that CAR be designated a country of…
Aug 11, 2022
USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Freedom in Nicaragua
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Nicaragua Country Update…
This report details deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Nicaragua during the first half of 2022. In March, the government expelled the papal nuncio, the Vatican’s chief diplomat in the country, for unexplained reasons. Most recently, a judge…
Additional Name(s):
Rolando José Álvarez, Rolando Jose Alvarez Lagos
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Nicaragua
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Catholic…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Nicaragua
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of…