Displaying results 1 - 100 of 470

Commission Issues Recommendations to Promote Religious Freedom in Uzbekistan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2001 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the…
Commission Says U.S. Must Press Uzbekistan on Religious Freedom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2002 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The upcoming visit of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov affords President Bush and the Secretary of State the…
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…
Did You Know...Uzbekistan
. . . that Uzbekistan pressures neighboring Central Asian countries to return asylum seekers who have fled Uzbek government repression of their religious freedoms?Since Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, its government has systematically and…
Did You Know...Nigeria
...that two years later there still have been no prosecutions stemming from Nigeria’s presidential post-election violence that killed more than 800?In April 2011, immediately following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, more than 800 people…
USCIRF Concerned by Nigeria's Religiously-Related Violence and Inadequate Government Response
Apr 15, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 15, 2013| By USCIRF  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ongoing attacks and retaliations by Muslims and Christians in Nigeria's violent, religiously and ethnically mixed Middle Belt has left more…
USCIRF Letter to Secretary Kerry on the Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
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…
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…
Beyond Boko Haram: Nigeria's History of Violence
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 6, 2013 Beyond Boko Haram: Nigeria's History of Violence By: Tiffany Lynch  for the Council on Foreign Relations  - Posted on May 6 For almost two years, stories about violence in Nigeria have focused almost exclusively…
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…
Washington Post On Faith -- Honor U.S. values and interests: Back religious freedom abroad
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…
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…
Did You Know...Non-State Actors
...that particularly severe religious freedom violations are increasingly perpetrated by non-state actors in failing or failed states?One of the greatest emerging threats to freedom of religion or belief comes not from the actions of governments but from…
Did You Know...Boko Haram in Nigeria
....that Boko Haram has attacked more than 40 churches since 2012? Boko Haram, a Hausa-language name meaning “western education is a sin,” is an Islamic sect that sees the federal and northern state governments, as well as political and religious elites…
August 2013 Factsheet: Nigeria: Boko Haram's Religiously-Motivated Attacks
Click here to view the August 2013 Factsheet: Nigeria: Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks
CNN World -- Fight Terrorism with Religious Freedom
Sep 11, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONSeptember 11, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on September 11, 2013. Editor's note: Robert P. George is chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Upcoming Meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan
Sep 23, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 23, 2013| By USCIRF USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Upcoming Meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent…
CNN World -- Nigeria must hold extremists accountable
Oct 18, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 4, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on October 4, 2013. Editor's note: Robert P. George is the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
Reuters -- Human Rights Day: Still pursuing religious freedom
Dec 11, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION December 11, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in Reuters & the Chicago Tribune on December 10, 2013. December 10 marks Human Rights Day,…
NIGERIA: USCIRF Condemns Horrific Attack on Worshippers in Mosque
Dec 2, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2014 I USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the horrific November 28 attack on worshippers at Kano’s Central…
January 2015 Factsheet: Religious Freedom and Nigeria's 2015 Elections
Click here to view the January 2015 Factsheet: Religious Freedom and Nigeria's 2015 Elections
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…
USCIRF Warns of Potential Religiously-Motivated Violence Around Nigeria’s Upcoming Elections
Feb 2, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reports of pre-election violence, combined with rising societal and political tensions, increase the likelihood of religiously-motivated violence…
...on Nigeria's upcoming elections
Nigeria will hold presidential, federal parliamentary, and state parliamentary elections on March 28, 2015. The election previously was scheduled for February 14, 2015, but was pushed back due to security concerns in the north-east region of the country.…
USCIRF Congratulates Nigerians on Peaceful Election
Apr 3, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 3, 2015 | USCIRF Calls on President-Elect to Govern Inclusively and Address Inter-Faith Tensions WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Uzbekistan: Ten Years after the Andijon Tragedy
May 13, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 13, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Andijon massacre.  On May 13, 2005, as…
USCIRF Concerned by Rise in Violence in Nigeria
Jul 17, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2015  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hundreds of people have been killed in Boko Haram terrorist attacks throughout northern Nigeria and in sectarian violence in the Middle Belt during the past…
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…
USCIRF Welcomes Release of State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report; Urges Prompt CPC Designations
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…
The National Interest -- Where Your Religion Can Still Send You to Jail
Dec 10, 2015 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 10, 2015 | Mary Ann Glendon and Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in The National Interest on December 10, 2015 December 10 marks Human Rights Day, the sixty-seventh…
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…
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,…
Religion News Service -- Today — of all days — remember the disappeared
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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.…
The Hill: Protecting Religious Freedom Provides Common Ground for All
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…
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…
Central Nigeria: Overcoming Dangerous Speech and Endemic Religious Divides
The full report may be found here.   Summary of Findings   In Nigeria, a range of state and societal violations have adversely impacted religious freedom conditions in the country. As a result, since 2009, USCIRF has recommended the U.S…
USCIRF Releases Report on Violence in Central Nigeria on Eve of Presidential Elections
Feb 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2019   USCIRF Releases Report on Violence in Central Nigeria on Eve of Presidential Elections   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
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…
Summer Seminar #1 -- A Foundational Human Right: Why International Religious Freedom Matters
Jun 24 WHEN: Jun 24th 6:59pm…
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
Country Update: Eritrea — August 2019
Click here to view the August 2019 Country Update: Eritrea.
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…
Aramais Avakian
Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Ethnic Group: Armenian Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other Reports of…
Ruhiddin Fahriddinov
Additional Name(s): Ruhiddin Fahrutdinov, Ruhiddin Fazlitdinovich Fahrutdinov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Ibrahim El Zakzaky
Additional Name(s): Ibrahim Zakzaky Gender: Male Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Health Concerns: Minor…
Zeenah Ibraheem
Additional Name(s): Zeenatudeen Gender: Female Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Reports of…
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].
Shari’ah Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria
The full report may be found here.    For 20 years, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has monitored and evaluated religious freedom conditions in Nigeria. This year also marks 20 years since Nigeria’s return to…