Displaying results 1 - 100 of 860

Nov 14, 2000 The Washington Post November 14, 2000 By Elliott Abrams An amendment signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin threatens the "liquidation" of thousands of religious groups at the end of…
Presented by Commissioner Richard D. Land United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Religion, Politics, and Human Rights Russian Academy of Public Service Moscow, Russia March 18, 2002 Introduction Russia has been traveling…
"Religious Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy" Presented by Commissioner Richard D. Land United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Religion, Politics, and Human Rights Russian Academy of Public Service Moscow, Russia…
As prepared Presented by Commissioner Elizabeth Prodromou United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Russian Presidential Administration's Academy of State Service, Moscow, Russia February 9, 2006 "Human Rights and…
... that in 2012 Vladimir Putin signed into force five new Russian laws that restrict the civil and political rights of Russian civil society, including those of religious communities?Protests erupted across the Russian Federation, but particularly in…
Click here to view January 2013 Policy Brief, Russia: Unruly State of Law.
Feb 14, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONFebruary 14, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Catherine Cosman The following op-ed appeared in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. "Russia is now a…
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…
…that April 8 is Yom Ha Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, but acts of anti-Semitism still occur in Europe?In Russia, xenophobia and intolerance, including anti-Semitism, fuel hate crimes by skinhead groups. In Belarus, the anti-Jewish utterances of…
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…
...that Europe’s largest internal armed conflict is in Russia’s North Caucasus, particularly Dagestan and Chechnya? The conflict in Russia’s North Caucasus region is the largest internal armed conflict in Europe, pitting Russian government forces against…
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 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…
Jun 28, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 28, 2012 | By USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Russian State Duma on June 26 passed a controversial bill on "causing offense to the sentiments of religious believers." The bill now awaits only…
Jul 22, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 22, 2013 | By USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. -- USCIRF urges President Obama to raise concerns about religious freedom violations in Vietnam when he meets at the White House with Vietnamese…
Aug 15, 2013  FOR YOUR INFORMATION    August 15, 2013 | By  Katrina Lantos Swett  and  M. Zuhdi Jasser   The following op-ed appeared in  The Moscow Times  on August 15, 2013 | Issue…
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 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,…
Jan 28, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATION January 27, 2014 | By  Robert P. George    The following op-ed appeared in  The Hill  on January 27, 2014. I testified before the Congressional Tom Lantos Human…
Feb 5, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 5, 2014 | USCIRF The upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics has thrust Russia into the world spotlight. The Kremlin’s increasing intolerance, however, deserves equal, if not greater, attention.…
USCIRF Commissioner Eric P. Schwartz testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing entitled "The Persecution of Religious and Indigenous Communities in Vietnam." Click here to view the full written testimony…
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.…
Dec 1, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 1, 2014 | By Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett and Dr. Robert P. George  The following op-ed appeared in The Moscow Times on November 26, 2014. The op-ed also appeared in the Kyiv Post.…
Jul 27, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJuly 27, 2015 | By: M. Zuhdi Jasser and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in The Moscow Times on July 26, 2015 How will Europe's human rights court respond to a…
Oct 14, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 14, 2015 | Mary Ann Glendon and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in the Atlantic Council on October 14, 2015. This op-ed also appeared in Newsweek.  "We cannot stand…
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 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…
Jan 27, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION January 27, 2016 | M. Zuhdi Jasser and Thomas J. Reese The following op-ed appeared in USA Today on January 27, 2016   As the United States and the world today mark International…
Feb 19, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION February 19, 2016 | Thomas J. Reese and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in the America Magazine on February 19, 2016   Religion in Vietnam today looks markedly…
Mar 18, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two years ago today, Russia unlawfully annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, cynically using the Orthodox “culture, civilization, and…
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…
Jul 8, 2016 Click here to view this press release in Russian.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 7 signed into law a package of anti-terrorism…
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…
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 10, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 10th anniversary of the State Department’s removal of Vietnam’s designation as a “country of particular concern” (or CPC), the U.S. Commission on…
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…
Click here to view Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular Concern Designation 10 Years After its RemovalClick here to view the Vietnamese translation of Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular…
Feb 8, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2017   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular…
Apr 3, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2017 RUSSIA:  Russia Suspends Jehovah’s Witnesses USCIRF Condemns Actions That Would Eliminate the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Legal Existence in Russia Washington, D.C. –  Russia…
Apr 20, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2017 RUSSIA:  Supreme Court Outlaws the Jehovah’s Witnesses USCIRF Condemns Russian Supreme Court Decision Banning the Jehovah’s Witnesses WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S.…
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…
Apr 28, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on April 27, 2017 By former USCIRF Commissioners Thomas J. Reese and Daniel Mark   On April 26, the U.S. Commission on International…
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…
May 15, 2017 Commissioner Jackie Wolcott sent the following letter to Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh and Mrs. Tran Thi Hong on May 15, 2017.Click here to view the Vietnamese translation of the letter. May 15, 2017…
May 19, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2017   RUSSIA: Release Bagir Kazikhanov   USCIRF Commissioner John Ruskay tells the Russian Government to “Stop Equating Peaceful Religious Behavior with Terrorism…
Jul 17, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2017 RUSSIA: Jehovah’s Witnesses Banned After Supreme Court Rejects Appeals USCIRF Condemns the Banning of the Jehovah’s Witnesses WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on…
Jul 26, 2017 Commissioner John Ruskay sent the following letter to Russian religious prisoner of conscience Bagir Kazikhanov.Click here to read the Russian translation of the letter.       July 26, 2017…
Jul 28, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2017   VIETNAM: Religious Prisoner of Conscience Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh Released USCIRF Urges the United States to Continue Raising Religious Freedom with Vietnam WASHINGTON…
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…
Oct 11, 2017  USCIRF Vice Chairwoman Kristina Arriaga Testifies Before the House Oversight Committee Arriaga tells Members that religious freedom violations “have security implications for the United States"  …
Oral StatementAS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY  Commissioner Thomas Reese, S.J.  U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom Vietnam Caucus/Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Briefing on Religious Freedom in Vietnam October 24, 2017  AS PREPARED FOR…
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,…
Jan 31, 2018 This Op-Ed appeared originally in the Atlantic Council's blog, UkraineAlert, on January 31, 2018. By Clifford D. May and Thomas J. Reese, S.J. (Atlantic Council) - In 2017, for the first time ever, the US…
Click here to view the report Inventing Extremists: The Impact of Russian Anti-Extremism Policies on Freedom of Religion or BeliefExecutive Summary The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commissioned this report to examine…
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…
Sep 26, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2018   Vice Chair Arriaga Adopts Two Religious Prisoners of Conscience Vice Chair Arriaga said, “These two cases are examples of the Russian government ‘securitizing’ religion…
Oct 23, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2018   Vice Chair Arriaga Expresses Concern About Patriarch Thích Quảng Độ “I am especially concerned about Thích Quảng Độ’s wellbeing because he will turn 90 on November 27…
Nov 27, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 27, 2018     USCIRF Statement on Tomorrow’s Hearing of Russian Prisoner of Conscience Ivan Matsitsky WASHINGTON, DC – United States Commission on International Religious…
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…
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 7, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2019     USCIRF Condemns Russian Conviction of Danish Prisoner of Conscience Dennis Christensen Proof of Putin Escalating Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses, says Vice Chair…
Additional Name(s): Mariya Vladimirovna Troshina, Трошина Мария Владимировна Gender: Female Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Nataliya Igorevna Sorokina, Сорокина Наталия Игоревна Gender: Female Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Valeriy Vasilyevich Moskalenko, Москаленко Валерий Васильевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's…
Additional Name(s): Feliks Khasanovich Makhammadiyev, Махаммадиев Феликс, Махаммадиев Феликс Хасанович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian…
Additional Name(s): Sergey Alekseyevich Britvin, Бритвин Сергей Алексеевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Vadim Anatolevich Levchuk, Левчук Вадим Анатольевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Shamil Shapiyevich Sultanov, Султанов Шамиль Шапиевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Valentin Pavlovich Osadchuk, Осадчук Валентин Павлович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Aleksey Vladimirovich Budenchuk, Буденчук Алексей, Буденчук Алексей Владимирович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian –…
Additional Name(s): Andrey Garafetanovich Stupnikov, Ступников Андрей Гарафетанович Gender: Male Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Kirov Perpetrator: Russia…
Additional Name(s): Dennis Ole Christensen, Кристенсен Деннис Оле Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Ethnic Group: Danish Religion or Belief:…
Additional Name(s): Sergey Gennadyevich Klimov, Климов Сергей Геннадьевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Dmitriy Viktorovich Barmakin, Бармакин Дмитрий Викторович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Мацицкий Иван Владимирович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Scientologist Reports…
Additional Name(s): Aleksander Akopov, Aleksandr Andreevich Akopov, Акопов Александр Андреевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah…
Additional Name(s): Alam Abdulaziz ogly Aliyev, Alam Abdulaziz Aliyev, Алиев Алам Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's…
Additional Name(s): Vladimir Aleksandrovich Alushkin, Алушкин Владимир Александрович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's…
Additional Name(s): Vladimir Andreyevich Atrуakhin, Атряхин Владимир Андреевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Konstantin Viktorovich Bazhenov, Баженов Константин, Баженов Константин Викторович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian…
Additional Name(s): Snezhana Yevgenyevna Bazhenova, Баженова Снежана Евгеньевна Gender: Female Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's…
Additional Name(s): Aleksei Berchuk, Aleksey Aleksandrovich Berchuk, Берчук Алексей, Берчук Алексей Александрович Gender: Male Current Location: IK No. 3, Mari El Republic…
Additional Name(s): Vyacheslav Pavlovich Boronos, Боронос Вячеслав Павлович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Yevgeniy Anatoliyevich Fedin, Федин Евгений Анатольевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Saveliy Georgiyevich Gargalyk, Гаргалык Савелий Георгиевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Dmitriy Mikhailovich Golik, Голик Дмитрий, Голик Дмитрий Михайлович Gender: Male Current Location: Penal Colony No. 8, Amur Region Perpetrator: Russia…
Additional Name(s): Ilkham Shamilevich Karimov, Каримов Ильхам Шамилевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Yevgeniy Nikolayevich Kayryak, Кайряк Евгений Николаевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Khoren Nikolayevich Khachikyan, Хачикян Хорен Николевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Maksim Valeryevich Khalturin, Халтурин Максим Валерьевич Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Additional Name(s): Artem Stanislavovich Kim, Ким Артём Станиславович Gender: Male Perpetrator: Russia Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
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)…
May 23, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2019 USCIRF Condemns Russian Court’s Decision to Uphold Conviction of Religious Prisoner of Conscience Dennis Christensen Decision reflects growing dangers faced by Russia’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