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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent the following letter on July 19, 2012: The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State United States Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Clinton: On behalf…
… that since the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, two years ago, nearly 100 Coptic Orthodox Christians have been killed in Egypt due to sectarian violence, surpassing the death toll of the previous 10 years combined?The situation for Copts in Egypt…
February 26, 2013USCIRF Chair, Dr. Katrina Lantoss Swett testified on February 26, 2013 before the Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on "Demonstrations in Tahrir Square: Two Years Later: What Has…
Apr 1, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION By  USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett  Even as we prepare to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, European society's dark past of bigotry haunts our present The following op-ed appeared…
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 14, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 14, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett The following was published in the Washington Post, On Faith on May 14, 2013. Fifteen years ago, on May 14, 1998, U.S. House of Representatives voted in…
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…
Jun 10, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared on Al-Monitor on June 9, 2013. In June 2012, more than 16 months following the Tahrir Square…
Jun 10, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMarch 21, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett The following appeared in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs on March 21, 2013. In December 2012, Egypt approved a new constitution by…
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 8, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 8, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett The following appeared in Eurasia Review on July 4th, 2013. Last Saturday, on June 29, I was honored to speak in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the Ahmadiyya…
...that since the June 30 large-scale protests in Egypt that led to the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, there has been an upsurge of attacks against Coptic Christians and that these attacks have resulted in several deaths and injuries?…
Aug 16, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2013 | By USCIRF USCIRF is deeply concerned by the violence against protestors and the targeting of churches in Egypt. The government's excessive use of force when breaking up…
Aug 22, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 21, 2013 | By Robert P. George and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in The Washington Post on August 21, 2013. Although religious freedom is a pivotal human right,…
Sep 16, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 16, 2013| By USCIRF USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Unprecedented Sectarian Attacks Committed Against Christians in Egypt   The U.S. Commission on International…
Sep 25, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION September 20, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on September 20, 2013. As the UN General Assembly begins its new session,…
Dec 3, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 2, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in the Providence Journal on November 30, 2013. Washington - As the nation celebrates Thanksgiving, Jewish Americans are also…
Click here to view the December 2013 Policy Brief, Egyptian Constitutional Review
Title 2025 Annual Report - Sri Lanka Chapter File Upload Sri Lanka 2025 USCIRF Annual Report.pdf Language English Year 2025…
Nov 10, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2014 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two anniversaries this month highlight the importance of continually confronting and combatting anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it arises.…
Feb 19, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the barbarous murder of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by a Libyan affiliate of the Islamic…
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…
USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George testified on November 3, 2015 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing entitled “Human Rights in Egypt.”From the testimony: “The religious freedom landscape in Egypt has become further complicated over…
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…
USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. testified on July 15, 2016 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing titled "Blasphemy Laws and Censorship by States and Non-State Actors: Examining Global Threats to Freedom of Expression." From the…
Dec 2, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2016   WASHINGTON, DC – With the passing of Fidel Castro on November 25, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the Cuban government to take a…
Dec 15, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the brutal attack at Cairo’s main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.…
Apr 27, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in the Georgetown University Berkley Forum on April 26, 2017. The op-ed also appeared in Religious Freedom Institute: Cornerstone.   By former USCIRF Commissioner Thomas J. Reese…
May 9, 2017 CUBA: USCIRF Condemns the Expulsion of Félix Yuniel Llerena López from the University of CubaUSCIRF Calls on the University to Reinstate Félix as a Student and for the Castro Government to Cease Its Harassment of Him…
Aug 3, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 3, 2017   USCIRF Condemns Egypt’s Deportation of Uighur Muslims to China “These latest moves show a calculated indifference to the Uighur Muslim community” WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S…
Dec 11, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018     USCIRF Calls on Cuba to Cease Harassment of Religious Leaders, Strengthen Religious Freedom Language in New Constitution   Current Draft Weakens…
Apr 24, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2019 USCIRF Condemns Cuban Authorities’ Crackdown on Homeschooling Pastor and Wife   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
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 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2019   USCIRF Statement on Cuba Preventing Religious Leaders from Attending International Religious Freedom Meeting   WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the prohibition of…
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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  …
Dec 13, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2019 USCIRF Condemns Egypt’s Arrest of Coptic Activist Ramy Kamel WASHINGTON, DC (December 13, 2019) – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly…
Mar 10, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  March 10, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Cuba   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Apr 3, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2020 USCIRF Welcomes the Release of Ayda Expósito, Calls for Release of Other Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Cuba Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International…
Jul 1, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Welcomes the Release of Pastor Ramón Rigal, Calls for Release of Roberto Jesus Quinones Haces Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Cuba Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Cuba.pdf Language English Year 2026…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Egypt Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Egypt.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…
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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 19, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Condemns Egypt’s Detention of Mohamed Basheer, Ramy Kamel WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the Egyptian…
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…
Dec 30, 2020 USCIRF Calls for Release of Ramy Kamel WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) again calls on the Egyptian government to immediately and unconditionally release Coptic…
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Cuba Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant Date of Detainment: August/6/2021…
Factsheet: The Santería Tradition in Cuba Factsheet on the Santería Tradition in Cuba - This factsheet provides a brief overview of the traditions of the Santeria community in Cuba and highlights the religious freedom violations that…
Feb 22, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report about Santería in Cuba   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following factsheet on the Santería tradition in…
Mar 5, 2021 Santería is a syncretic religion that incorporates elements of Catholicism with the religion of the Yoruba people, who were brought as slaves to Cuba from the Congo basin and West Africa in the 16th century. While…
Mar 19, 2021 Egypt has historically faced many challenges to religious freedom. There has been recurring violence and discrimination against Coptic Christians, who represent 10-15% of the population, as well as other…
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          
Apr 24, 2021 Read full article This op-ed was originally published by the Arkansas Gazette, on April 24, 2021. By Commissioner James W. Carr and Rep. French Hill
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Houses of Worship Recommendation:Urge the Egyptian government to accelerate approvals for churches and church-…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: USAID Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Houses of Worship Recommendation:Allocate a portion of U.S. assistance—including through Foreign Military Funding (FMF) and…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Press the Egyptian government and security services to immediately end the practice of ceding legal authority to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Encourage the Egyptian government to repeal decrees banning Baha’is and Jehovah’s Witnesses, remove religion from…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Urge the Egyptian government to repeal or revise article 98(f) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes contempt of religion…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Congress Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should require the U.S. Department of State to provide justification for the release of any foreign military…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Egypt on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Houses of Worship Recommendation:Explicitly dedicate a portion of resources, set aside as part of the U.S. efforts…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Urge the Egyptian government to cease the longstanding practice of ceding legal authority to customary reconciliation…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: USAID Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Allocate a portion of U.S. assistance to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs supporting efforts to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Congress Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Require the State Department to provide explicit justification for the release to Egypt of any previously withheld Foreign…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Egypt on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Urge the Egyptian government to 1) take concrete steps toward phasing out the longstanding use of customary…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Encourage Egypt to expedite approval of church registrations under Law 80 of 2016
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: USAID Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Allocate a portion of U.S. assistance to programs supporting efforts to promote greater religious inclusivity throughout the…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Egypt Recommended To: Congress Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Conduct a comprehensive review of all U.S. assistance to Egypt and require the State Department to provide explicit…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious prisioners Recommendation:Highlight religious freedom violations in specific prisoner of conscience…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Travel Recommendation:Prioritize adequate coverage of religious freedom issues as well as access to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Restrictions on religious activities Recommendation:Press the Cuban government to include in the new constitution…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Travel Recommendation:Facilitate multi-entry visas for both registered and unregistered Cuban religious leaders to…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Multilateral engagement Recommendation:Encourage key countries, particularly those in Latin America, to ensure…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Designation Recommendation:Maintain Cuba on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Sanctions Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on Cuban government agencies and officials responsible for severe…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Journalism Recommendation:Ensure that programs that support independent journalism in Cuba are responsive in…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Travel Recommendation:Enable the processing of visas in Havana for religious leaders, along with activists…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: U.S. State Department Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Designation Recommendation:Maintain Cuba on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for engaging in or…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Sanctions Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on Cuban government agencies and officials responsible for severe…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Public statements Recommendation:Publicly denounce violations of religious freedom and related human rights in Cuba and…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Cuba Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Travel Recommendation:Encourage Cuban authorities to extend an official invitation for an unrestricted visits by USCIRF…