Displaying results 1 - 100 of 322

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs -- They Are Not Alone: Supporting Prisoners of Conscience
Jan 15, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJanuary 14, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett The following appeared in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs on January 14, 2013. Former Soviet prisoner and refusenik Natan Sharansky,…
Did You Know...Eritrea
...that the Eritrean government, one of the most repressive governments in the world where a recent coup attempt just failed, has placed Eritrean Orthodox Church Patriarch Abune Antonios under house arrest since January 2006?Eritrea has been called the…
USCIRF's 2013 Annual Report on the State of International Religious Freedom Identifies World's Worst Violators
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…
Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy
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…
Christian Science Monitor -- Obama must hold Myanmar's Thein Sein accountable for human rights violations
May 20, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION May 20, 2013| By William Shaw and M. Zuhdi Jasser , and Azizah al-Hibri When President Obama meets with President Thein Sein of Myanmar (Burma) today, he should emphasize…
USCIRF Welcomes IRF Report; Calls for CPC Designations
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…
Burma Policy Brief: Implications of Religious and Ethnic Violence -- August 2013
Click here to view the August 2013 Policy Brief, Burma: Implications of Religious and Ethnic Violence
The Providence Journal -- Thanksgiving and Hanukkah spell re-dedication to religious freedom
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…
USCIRF Deeply Concerned by Draft “Religious Conversion Law” in Burma
Jun 11, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2014 | USCIRF  Washington, D.C. – The draft of the ill-advised “Religious Conversion Law” which Burma’s parliament released for public comment would further restrict religious…
Statement on USCIRF Visit to Burma
Aug 23, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 23, 2014 | USCIRF Statement of Commissioners M. Zuhdi Jasser and Eric P. Schwartz upon completing a five-day visit to Burma. This is our first Commissioner-level visit to the…
September 2014 Factsheet: Burma: USCIRF Examines Religious Freedom Violations During Fact-finding Trip to Burma
Click here to view the September 2014 Factsheet: Burma: USCIRF Examines Religious Freedom Violations During Fact-finding Trip to Burma
...on Burma
USCIRF’s report, “Burma: Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights Violations are Hindering Broader Reforms,” reflects findings from a Commissioner-level visit in August 2014.  In the report released in November, USCIRF urges the U.S.…
The Detroit News -- Two holy days, observed in freedom
Oct 6, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 6, 2014 | By M. Zuhdi Jasser and Hannah Rosenthal The following op-ed appeared in The Detroit News on October 4, 2014. On Saturday we will witness a confluence of two holy days of…
Burma: USCIRF Issues Report on Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights Violations
Click here to view USCIRF's report, Burma: USCIRF Issues Report on Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights Violations.
USCIRF Helps Launch International Parliamentary Coalition to Advance Religious Freedom
Nov 10, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2014  | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. –  In the face of escalating violations worldwide of religious freedom, an initiative that the U.S. Commission on International…
USCIRF Calls for Release of Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios
Jan 20, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 20, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – This January marks the eighth anniversary of the illegal removal of Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios from his position as head of the…
BURMA: USCIRF Strongly Condemns Race and Religion Bills
Jan 22, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the package of race and religion bills that Burma’s parliament is…
The Christian Science Monitor - Is Eritrea the North Korea of Africa?
Aug 18, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 18, 2015 | Robert P. George and Thomas J. Reese The following op-ed appeared in The Christian Science Monitor on August 18, 2015 Is Eritrea guilty of crimes against humanity? The question…
The Philadelphia Inquirer -- Threats to religious freedom
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…
BURMA: USCIRF Calls for the Protection of Religious and Ethnic Minorities During Post-Election Period and Beyond
Nov 13, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 13, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on the government of Burma to protect religious and ethnic minorities during the post-…
USCIRF: Release Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios
Jan 19, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2016   The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) solemnly marks the 10 year anniversary tomorrow of the illegal removal and detention of Eritrean…
BURMA: USCIRF Urges Government to End Religious Freedom Abuses
Apr 14, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sends warm New Year’s greetings to the people of Burma and urges the new government…
USCIRF Welcomes CPC Designations: Urges Additional Designations and Actions
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,…
Testimony of USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on "Blasphemy Laws and Censorship by States and Non-State Actors"
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…
Philadelphia Inquirer -- Commentary: Release every religious prisoner of conscience
Oct 27, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION October 27, 2016 | By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. and Daniel Mark The following op-ed appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 27, 2016    Abdul Shakoor is a member of the…
Religion News Service: Empower women by standing for religious freedom
Dec 9, 2016 The following op-ed appeared in Religion New Service on December 9, 2016 By former USCIRF Commissioners Kristina Arriaga and John Ruskay   Pwint Phyu Latt is a Muslim peace activist in Burma who sought to…
Suspended in Time: The Ongoing Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma
Click here to view the English versionClick here to view the Burmese version The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has monitored religious freedom conditions in Burma (also known as Myanmar) since the Commission first began…
Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma
English version Burmese version Each year since 1999, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Burma as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for its systematic,…
USCIRF Issues Reports on Religious Freedom Violations in Burma
Dec 13, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2016                      WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released…
Burma at the Brink: Religious Freedom Violations Threaten its Future
 December 13, 2016 USCIRF at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. publicly released two reports highlighting Burma’s serious religious freedom challenges: Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma and Suspended in Time: The…
ERITREA: Release Patriarch Abune Antonios
Jan 18, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2017   WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 20, 2017 marks the 11-year anniversary of the Eritrean government’s illegal removal of Abune Antonios as the rightful Patriarch of the…
Burma Chapter - 2017 Annual Report
Burma Chapter - 2017 Annual Report Burmese Translation
Religion News Service: Stripped of his title and illegally replaced, Eritrea’s spiritual leader languishes in detention
Jul 19, 2017 The following op-ed originally appeared in Religion News Service on July 19, 2017 By former USCIRF Commissioner Thomas J. Reese, S.J.   (RNS) — Stories speak to the best and worst in all of us,…
A Right for All: Freedom of Religion or Belief in ASEAN
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…
Press Release: USCIRF Vice Chairwoman Kristina Arriaga Testifies Before the House Oversight Committee
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"  …
Washington Examiner: Restoring religious freedom in the 'North Korea of Africa'
Oct 19, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in The Washington Examiner on September 26, 2017   By former USCIRF Commissioner Thomas J. Reese   Torture. Arbitrary arrests and detention without charges. A ban…
The Hill: The List No One Wants to Be On
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,…
Country Update - Burma: April 2018
Click here to view the April 2018 Country Update, Burma: Insights from USCIRF’s Visits to Burma and Bangladesh
Testimony of Commissioner Thomas Reese on Refugees and Religious Freedom Eritrea
On April 18, 2018, Commissioner Father Thomas Reese testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing on the refugee crisis in Eritrea.In his testimony, Chair Reese discussed USCIRF's Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.…
Christian Post: Long-Awaited US Report on Burma Lacks Teeth
Oct 9, 2018 This op-ed originally appeared in The Christian Post on September 18, 2018. By Tenzin Dorjee and Nadine Maenza It has been more than a year since Burmese authorities began a brutal campaign…
Burma Not Safe for Returning Rohingyas, Warns USCIRF
Oct 31, 2018  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2018   Burma Not Safe for Returning Rohingyas, Warns USCIRF WASHINGTON, DC — Responding to the recent announcement by the governments of Burma and Bangladesh that…
USCIRF Presses for Targeted Sanctions for Atrocities Committed Against Burma’s Rohingya Muslims and Other Religious and Ethnic Communities
Dec 3, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2018   USCIRF Presses for Targeted Sanctions for Atrocities Committed Against Burma’s Rohingya Muslims and Other Religious and Ethnic Communities Call comes days before…
State Department Names the World’s Worst Violators of Religious Freedom
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…
Isaac Mogos
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: Yes…
Negede Teklemariam
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: Yes…
Paulos Eyasu
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: Yes…
Abune Antonios
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes…
Burma Chapter - 2019 Annual Report
 Burma Chapter - 2019 Annual Report Burmese Translation
Summer Seminar #1 -- A Foundational Human Right: Why International Religious Freedom Matters
Jun 24 WHEN: Jun 24th 6:59pm…
Webinar #2: Burma
Host: Anurima Bhargava, Commissioner Country Expert: Tina Mufford, Deputy Director of Research and Policy
Testimony of Vice Chair Maenza on Global Persecution of Christians
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
USCIRF Responds to Travel Ban on Burmese Military Officials
Jul 18, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2019   USCIRF Responds to Travel Ban on Burmese Military Officials   WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, the State Department designated four Burmese military leaders as…
Country Update: Eritrea — August 2019
Click here to view the August 2019 Country Update: Eritrea.
USCIRF Statement on UN Report of “Genocidal Intent” by Burmese Military in Sexual Violence Against Rohingya Muslims and Others
Aug 23, 2019 USCIRF Statement on UN Report of “Genocidal Intent” by Burmese Military in Sexual Violence Against Rohingya Muslims and Others WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to a report released yesterday by United…
Inter Press Service: After Two Years of Horrors in Burma, the U.S. Is Still Doing Too Little, Too Late
Aug 23, 2019 This op-ed was originally published by Inter Press Service, on August 26, 2019. By Nadine Maenza and Anurima Bhargava Monsoon season is currently wreaking havoc on the more than 911,000 Rohingya refugees displaced…
Summer Seminar #2 -- Anti-Semitism: The World's Oldest Hatred — New Again?
Jul 24 WHEN: Jul 24th 1:00pm - Jul 24th 1:00pm…
USCIRF Hearing on Global Efforts to Counter Anti-Semitism
Jan 08 WHEN: Jan 8th 1:30pm…
Kidane Weldou
Gender: Male Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
Haile Naizghe
Gender: Male Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
Meron Gebreselasie
Gender: Male Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
Kiflu Gebremeskel
Gender: Male Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
Factsheet on Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia
Click here to view the October 2019 Factsheet on Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia.
USCIRF Releases New Reports on Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Iran
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)…
Aron Abraha
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Mussie Fessehaye
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Ambakom Tsegazeab
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Bemnet Fissehaye
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Henok Ghebru
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Werede Kiros
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Yonatan Yonas
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Kibreab Fissehaye
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Bereket Abraha Okba-gabr
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Yosief Fessehaye
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Yoel Tsegezab
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Samuel Ghirmay
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Teklu Gebrehiwot
Gender: Male Current Location: Adi Abeto Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Isaias Afeworki
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Milen Isaac
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Faiza Seid
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Hagos Woldemichael
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Araia Ghebremariam
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Tsegabirhan Berhe
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Daniel Meharizghi
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Yosief Tesfamariam
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Ghebru Berhane
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Tekle Gebrehiwet
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Thomas Tesfagabir
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Mardocai Estifanos
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Michael Gashazgi
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Liya Hidru
Gender: Female Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness Reports of Torture: No…
Wintana Shewaseged
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Mikaal Taddesse
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Emnet Woldai
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Senait Berhane
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Bereket Habteyesus
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Habtemariam Meraf Seyum
Gender: Female Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Samuol Dawit
Gender: Female Current Location: Adi Abeto Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Yonatan Asgedom
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Daniel Teka
Gender: Male Current Location: Mai Serwa Prison Perpetrator: Eritrea Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness…
Webinar #5: Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List
Host: Gayle Manchin, Vice ChairSubject Experts: Zack Udin and Kirsten Lavery     For more information, please contact Henry Young at [email protected].