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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…
Title
2025 Annual Report - Sri Lanka Chapter
File Upload
Sri Lanka 2025 USCIRF Annual Report.pdf
Language
English
Year
2025…
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…
Nov 2, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today criticized the Tajik government’s ongoing efforts to control religious activities, especially those of…
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,…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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)…
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 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…
Jul 24
WHEN:
Jul 24th 1:00pm
-
Jul 24th 1:00pm…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of…
Additional Name(s):
Shamil Rasulovich Khakimov
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Religion or Belief…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of Medical…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Ethnic Group:
Tajik
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of…
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am…
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…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture:
Yes…
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…
USCIRF Welcomes the Release of Pastor Ramón Rigal, Calls for Release of Roberto Jesus Quinones Haces
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 - Tajikistan Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Tajikistan.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…
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…
Oct 23
WHEN:
Oct 23rd 3:00pm…
Aug 05
WHEN:
Aug 5th 10:30am…
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…
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…
Nov 24, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Report about Countering Violent Extremism in Tajikistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Issue…
Read the full Issue Update:
Promoting Religious Freedom and Countering Violent Extremism in Tajikistan
This update describes Tajikistan’s official campaign to control and restrict Islamic practice, ostensibly an effort to combat the…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment:
August/6/2021…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture:
No…
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…
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Nury Turkel
Advocacy:
Press Release: USCIRF Vice Chair Nury Turkel Calls on Tajikistan to Release…
Feb 24, 2021
USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel Adopts New Religious Prisoner of Conscience from Tajikistan
Washington, DC –United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Nury Turkel today…
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…
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…
Jun 11, 2021
This op-ed was originally published by The Diplomat on June 11, 2021.
By USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins and Commissioner Nury Turkel.
Tajikistan is located in a dangerous neighborhood, sharing a long border…
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…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Cuba
Recommended To: Congress and the Administration
Source: 2021 Annual Report
Recommendation:Increase opportunities for Cuban religious leaders from both registered and unregistered religious communities…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. government should: redesignate Tajikistan as a CPC under IRFA and lift the waiver.
Actions…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:The U.S. government should: redesignate Tajikistan as a CPC under IRFA and lift the waiver.
Actions…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Condition U.S. assistance to the Tajikistani government, with the exception of aid to improve humanitarian…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: Congress; The Administration; Other Governments
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Work with the international community, particularly during Organization for Security…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: Congress; The Administration; Other Governmants
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Press for at the highest levels and work to secure the immediate release of individuals…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure continued U.S. funding for Radio Ozodi, contingent on its compliance with international standards of…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Ensure continued U.S. funding for Radio Ozodi, contingent on its compliance with international standards of…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Redesignate Tajikistan as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Condition U.S. assistance to the Tajikistani government, with the exception of aid to improve humanitarian…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: Congress; The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on Tajikistani government agencies and officials responsible for severe…
Status: partially_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: Congress; The Administration
Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Press the Tajikistani government at the highest levels to identify and immediately release…
Status: implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Redesignate Tajikistan as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Condition U.S. assistance to the Tajikistani government, with the exception of aid to improve humanitarian…
Status: not_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on Tajikistani government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of…
Status: partially_implemented
Year:
Country: Tajikistan
Recommended To: Congress; The Administration
Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report
Recommendation:Press the Tajikistani government at the highest levels to identify and immediately release…
Jul 13, 2021
USCIRF Condemns the Detention of Religious Leaders Amid Protests in Cuba
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) denounced the detention of religious leaders during…
Gender:
Female
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Ethnic Group:
Yoruba
Religion or Belief:
Santería
Sentence:
8 Years…
Gender:
Female
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Ethnic Group:
Yoruba
Religion or Belief:
Santería
Sentence:
8 Years…
Gender:
Female
Current Location:
Guamajal prison in Villa Clara
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Ethnic Group:
Yoruba
Religion or Belief:
Santería…
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
Provincial Prison, Santa Clara
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Ethnic Group:
Yoruba
Religion or Belief:
Santería…
Gender:
Female
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Ethnic Group:
Yoruba
Religion or Belief:
Santería
Reports of Torture:
No…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment:
July/11/2021…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Date of Detainment:
July/11/2021…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture:
Yes…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Sentence:
1 Year's House Arrest…
Jul 27, 2021
Cuba’s government has long been responsible for violating its citizens right to freedom of religion or belief. In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department again place Cuba on its Special…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Cuba
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Sentence:
9 Months' Imprisonment…
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets nationwide on July 11, 2021 to call for greater freedom and relief from the country’s economic and COVID-19 crises. Cuban authorities responded by detaining, often violently, an estimated 700 demonstrators and…
Sep 20, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report about Protests in Cuba and Religious Freedom
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following factsheet on the July 11…
Sep 30, 2021
For many years, USCIRF has been deeply concerned about religious freedom conditions in Central Asia, and more recently the impact of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan on the surrounding region.
Since 2012…
Oct 15, 2021
Tajikistan’s Inhumane Treatment of Religious Prisoner Indicative of Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is alarmed by…
Sri Lanka is a diverse country where complex ethno-religious divisions contribute to tension among the various communities. Despite protections guaranteed by the constitution and international law, Muslims and other religious minorities suffer abusive…
Additional Name(s):
Eshoni Sirojiddin, Mullo Sirojiddin
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Ethnic Group:
Tajik
Religion or Belief:
Muslim –…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Tajikistan
Ethnic Group:
Tajik
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture:
No…