Displaying results 1 - 100 of 234

CIRF Urges Laos, N. Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2000 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240 The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote Friday, July 28 to Secretary of State Madeleine…
Public Hearing: Religious Freedom in North Korea
Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302Photo Gallery: Commission members (left to right): Richard D. Land, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Felice D. Gaer, Executive Director Steven T. McFarland,…
North Korea: Human Rights Ground Zero:
University of California at Los Angeles January 27, 2004 Transcript Welcome and Introductory Remarks - Michael K. Young, Commission Chair and Dean, George Washington University Law School Oral Testimony Panel One Roger…
Press Conference on North Korea Report: "Thank You Father Kim Il Sung"
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM "THANK YOU FATHER KIM IL SUNG" November 15, 2005 Speakers: MICHAEL CROMARTIE, THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BISHOP RICARDO RAMIREZ, THE UNITED…
Ensure Human Rights Are on the Agenda With North Korea, Commission Urges President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2002 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration…
Press Conference and Briefing on North Korea
Transcript Introductory Remarks by Chair Michael Cromartie Introductory Remarks by Commissioner Imam Talal Y. Eid Remarks by Chair Cromartie
Did You Know...North Korea
...that since 1945 North Korea’s once-diverse and vibrant religious community has largely disappeared?North Korea’s reactions to new sanctions, including its latest nuclear threats and declaration invalidating the 1953 Armistice ending the Korean War,…
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…
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…
Eurasia Review -- July 4 and the Ahmadiyya - OpEd
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…
CNN World -- The two faces of India
Nov 13, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONNovember 12, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on November 12, 2013. Editor's note: Katrina Lantos Swett is Vice Chairwoman of…
Testimony of USCIRF Vice Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett on "The Plight of Religious Minorities in India"
USCIRF Vice Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett testified on Friday, April 4 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission during a hearing entitled, "The Plight of Religious Minorities in India." Click here to view the full written testimony…
The Seattle Times -- World must pressure North Korea on human rights
Oct 27, 2014 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 27, 2014 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in The Seattle Times on October 24, 2014 NORTH Korea’s release of Jeffrey Fowle, imprisoned for leaving…
North Korea Must be Held Accountable for its Abysmal Human Rights Record
Dec 22, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 22, 2014 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the UN General Assembly’s passage on December 18 of a resolution that…
India: Importance of Getting Religious Freedom Right
Feb 6, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 6, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends President Obama for deepening relations with India while also recognizing…
Testimony of USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George on "The Crisis of International Religious Freedom"
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…
North Korea: USCIRF Urges Religious Freedom Be Included in UN Security Council Human Rights Meeting
Dec 9, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 9, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the United States and eight other countries for requesting a meeting of the UN Security…
India: USCIRF Not Issued Visas
Mar 3, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Indian government today failed to issue visas to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in time for a long planned…
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…
Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India
Click here to view Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India
INDIA: Report Examines Legal Restrictions Religious Minorities Face
Feb 8, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2017   WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report, Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India, examines India’s constitution and national and state laws…
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,…
Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights in North Korea
Click here to view the Policy Update: Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights in North Korea
USCIRF Statement on Release of New Policy Update on Religious Freedom in North Korea
Nov 30, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2018   USCIRF Statement on Release of New Policy Update on Religious Freedom in North Korea WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Limitations on Minorities' Religious Freedom in South Asia
The full report may be found here.Summary of Findings The right to freely choose and change one’s religion is protected under international law, as is the right to manifest one’s beliefs through teaching those beliefs. While there is a right to propagate…
New USCIRF Report: Anti-Conversion Laws on the Rise in South Asia
Dec 11, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018   New USCIRF Report: Anti-Conversion Laws on the Rise in South Asia USCIRF Calls on U.S. to Press South Asian Governments to Rescind These Laws   WASHINGTON, DC –…
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…
USCIRF Urges President Trump to Address Religious Freedom Abuses in North Korea
Feb 27, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2019     USCIRF Urges President Trump to Address Religious Freedom Abuses in North Korea WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom…
Summer Seminar #1 -- A Foundational Human Right: Why International Religious Freedom Matters
Jun 24 WHEN: Jun 24th 6:59pm…
USCIRF Statement on Mob Lynching of Muslim Man in India
Jun 26, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2019 USCIRF Statement on Mob Lynching of Muslim Man in India WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the reported murder of Tabrez Ansari by a mob in the eastern state of Jharkhand in India…
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 Statement on Indian Government’s “Religious Test” for Muslims in Assam
Aug 27, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [AUGUST 27, 2019]   USCIRF Statement on Indian Government’s “Religious Test” for Muslims in Assam   WASHINGTON, DC – Residents of the northeastern Indian state of Assam face an August…
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…
USCIRF Statement on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary
Oct 1, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2019 On October 2, the world will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In honor of Gandhi’s life and principles, United States Commission on International…
Issue Brief: India
Click here to view the India Issue Brief.
Fate of Nearly 2 million in Assam, India Examined in New USCIRF Report
Nov 19, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 2019     Fate of Nearly 2 million in Assam, India Examined in New USCIRF Report   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
USCIRF Raises Serious Concerns and Eyes Sanctions Recommendations for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in India, Which Passed Lower House Today
Dec 9, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2019 USCIRF Raises Serious Concerns and Eyes Sanctions Recommendations for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in India, Which Passed Lower House Today WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission…
USCIRF Disappointed UN Security Council Did Not Discuss Religious Freedom in North Korea
Dec 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2019       USCIRF Disappointed UN Security Council Did Not Discuss Religious Freedom in North Korea   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on…
Briefing on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: New Policy Guidance from the OSCE
Feb 11 WHEN: Feb 11th 10:30am…
USCIRF Releases New Factsheet on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act
Feb 19, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  February 19, 2020   USCIRF Releases New Factsheet on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF…
Factsheet on The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India
Click here to view the February 2020 Factsheet on The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in IndiaIn December 2019, the Indian Parliament passed into law the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). This law provides a fast track to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim…
USCIRF Welcomes Indian Supreme Court Decision on Assam Detention Centers as a First Step
Apr 14, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2020 USCIRF Welcomes Indian Supreme Court Decision on Assam Detention Centers as a First Step Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed…
USCIRF Commissioner James Carr Adopts Deacon Zhang Wen Shi of North Korea and Pastor A Dao of Vietnam through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
May 29, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2020 USCIRF Commissioner James Carr Adopts Deacon Zhang Wen Shi of North Korea and Pastor A Dao of Vietnam through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Washington, DC – United States Commission on…
Zhu Guangjuan
Gender: Female Perpetrator: China Ethnic Group: Han Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God Reports of…
USCIRF Releases New Report about Human Rights Advocacy and the North Korea Nuclear Impasse
Jul 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases New Report about Human Rights Advocacy and the North Korea Nuclear Impasse Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Washington Examiner: Washington Must Expand the List of Sanctioned Religious Freedom Violators
Jul 20, 2020 This op-ed was originally published by The Washington Examiner, on July 20, 2020. By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins In Iraq, the 50th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces has…
The National Interest: There Shall Be No God But Kim: Religious Freedom in North Korea
Aug 2, 2020 This op-ed originally appears in The National Interest, on August 2, 2020. By USCIRF Commissioners James W. Carr and Frederick A. Davie For years, Deacon Jang Moon Seok ministered to North Koreans…
Deacon Zhang Wen Shi
Advocacy: Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update, February 25, 2021…
India Annual Report Chapters and Translations
Title 2026 Annual Report - India Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report India.pdf Language English Year 2026…
North Korea Annual Report Chapters and Translations
Title 2026 Annual Report - North Korea Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report North Korea.pdf Language English Year…
Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy
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…
North Korea Policy Update
Read the full report here. Religious freedom conditions in North Korea remain among the worst in the world, yet the U.S. government for decades has tended to prioritize security concerns over human rights rather than integrating the two issues as…
Webinar #5: Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List
Nov 06 WHEN: Nov 6th 2:00pm…
2018 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom
Jul 25 WHEN: Jul 25th 5:00pm - Jul 25th 7:00pm…
USCIRF Events During 2019 Ministerial
Jul 16 WHEN: Jul 16th 4:00pm - Jul 18th 2:00pm…
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing Protecting Houses of Worship and Holy Sites
Oct 23 WHEN: Oct 23rd 3:00pm…
USCIRF Hearing on Citizenship Laws and Religious Freedom
Mar 04 WHEN: Mar 4th 2:30pm…
USCIRF Update with USAID: The President’s Executive Order on International Religious Freedom
Aug 05 WHEN: Aug 5th 10:30am…
Issue Update: The Global Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
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…
Stan Swamy
Gender: Male Perpetrator: India Ethnic Group: Tamil Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic Health Concerns: Parkinson's disease,…
Violating Rights: Enforcing the World's Blasphemy Laws
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.…
USCIRF Releases Groundbreaking Report on the Enforcement of Blasphemy Laws Globally
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…
Zhang Wen Shi
Additional Name(s): Jang Moon Seok Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant…
Religious Freedom Priorities for the Biden Administration
Feb 4, 2021   As the Biden administration begins to formulate its broader human rights policy, USCIRF highlights several priority countries when it comes to international religious freedom. Condemning and preventing…
Joo Gwang Ho
Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant Reports of Torture…
Chung Yong Cheol
Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant Reports of Torture…
Chang Man Sik
Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant Health Concerns: Stomach issues…
Lee Soo Gil
Gender: Male Perpetrator: North Korea Ethnic Group: Korean Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant Reports of Torture…
USCIRF Releases 2021 Annual Report with Recommendations for U.S. Policy
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…
2021 Annual Report
View the 2021 Annual Report          
Enforcing Blasphemy Laws Have Dire Consequences
May 27, 2021 Blasphemy laws criminalize expression that insults or offends religious doctrines. Such laws are often used to restrict freedom of religion or belief. As of 2020, 84 countries still had blasphemy laws. The severity…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Press the Indian government to allow a USCIRF delegation to visit the country and meet with stakeholders to…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the Indian government to create a multiyear strategy to ebb the flow of hate crimes targeting…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Strengthening the training and capacity of state and central police to prevent and punish cases of religious…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Encouraging passage of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to establish national and state…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Assisting the Ministry of Law and Justice to work with state prosecutors to increase the rate of prosecutions…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Increase the U.S. Embassy’s focus on religious freedom and related human rights through continued visits to…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Advocate for the Indian central government to ensure that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act is not used…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Designate India as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic,…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Strengthen the U.S. Embassy’s and consulates’ engagement with religious communities, local officials, and…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: Congress Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should continue to hold hearings highlighting religious freedom conditions in India and U.S. policy toward…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Designate India as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic,…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: Administration Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Advance human rights of all religious communities in India and promote religious freedom and dignity and…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Condemn ongoing religious freedom violations and support religious organizations and human rights groups being…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: India Recommended To: Congress Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:The U.S. Congress should continue to raise religious freedom concerns in the U.S.-India bilateral relationship and highlight…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Freedom of Information Recommendation:Expand existing radio programming transmitted into North Korea and…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Security and Human Rights Recommendation:Include, whenever possible, both the Special Envoy and the…
Recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Fill the current vacancy and maintain the Special Envoy for North Korean t g human rights issues as a full-time…
Recommendations
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Sanctions Recommendation:Make any future discussions regarding the easing or lifting of sanctions…
recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Pressure the North Korean governmen to grant international human rights monitors unfettered access to document…
recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: Congress Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the administration to clarify the conditions under which Congress would approve the partial or complete lifting…
recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Freedom of Information Recommendation:Instruct the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s Open Technology Fund to…
recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Urge the North Korean government to grant international human rights monitors unfettered access to document…
recommendation
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: The Administration Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Fill the current vacancy and maintain the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues as a fulltime,…
recommendation
Status: implemented Year: Country: North Korea Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: CPC status Recommendation:Redesignate North Korea as a CPC Actions Taken:The DPRK was…