Displaying results 1 - 100 of 252

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…
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…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2000 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240 The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today wrote to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with recommendations for a…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2001 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27 WASHINGTON - With Muslim-Christian violence flaring yet again in Indonesia, the U.S. Commission on International Religious…
November 14, 2011The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Obama: On behalf of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), allow me to wish you a safe and productive visit to Indonesia for the East Asia…
. . . 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…
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…
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…
Click here to view the October 2013 Factsheet: Indonesia: A New Culture of Intolerance Threatens Religious Minorities
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
May 12, 2017 INDONESIA: USCIRF Denounces the Recent Conviction and Sentencing of Jakarta’s Governor for BlasphemyUSCIRF Calls for the Release of Those Accused of or Convicted of Blasphemy   Washington, D.C. –  The U.S.…
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…
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 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…
Jan 24, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2019   USCIRF Welcomes Release of Jailed Jakarta Governor; Denounces Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Feb 8, 2019 This op-ed was originally published by The Globe Post on February 8, 2019. By Gayle Manchin and Nadine Maenza Recently, Grace Natalie, head and founder of the young and progressive Indonesian…
Apr 18, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2019   Religious Extremists Exploit Blasphemy Laws in Indonesian Election, Says USCIRF   WASHINGTON, DC – Following the completion of Indonesia’s April 17 general elections…
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
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Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Ethnic Group: Armenian Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other Reports of…
Additional Name(s): Ruhiddin Fahrutdinov, Ruhiddin Fazlitdinovich Fahrutdinov Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Click here to view the Indonesia Policy Update.
Read the full report here.This report provides an assessment of religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan, where USCIRF commissioners and staff traveled twice over the course of 2019. Although Uzbekistan has taken some important initial steps to allow…
Jan 31, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2020   USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Uzbekistan   Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Jun 7, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared on Newsweek By USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins and Vice Chair Gayle Manchin.  From the coronavirus pandemic to the use of surveillance, freedom of religion or belief…
Jul 9, 2020 This op-ed originally appears in The Diplomat, on July 9, 2020. By USCIRF Commissioners Nadine Maenza and Nury Turkel For many years, Uzbekistan presented a bleak picture in a region notorious for poor human…
Jul 17, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases Report on the Anti-cult Movement and Religious Regulation in Russia and Central Asia Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Additional Name(s): Khayrullo Turdiyevich Tursunov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison No. 5 in Karshi (Shaykhali Prison) Perpetrator: Uzbekistan…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Indonesia Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Indonesia.pdf Language English Year 2026…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Uzbekistan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Uzbekistan.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…
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Click here to view the Rohingya Refugees Factsheet.   This factsheet highlights the conditions of Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia. While the majority of Rohingya refugees have fled from Burma to Bangladesh, a significant number have escaped to…
Oct 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Releases Factsheet on Rohingya Refugees in Southeast Asia Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on…
Oct 30, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Welcomes Legal Reform Efforts in Uzbekistan, Urges Conformity with International Standards WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
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…
Dec 7, 2020       There are 84 countries across the globe with criminal blasphemy laws on the books as of 2020. While only a handful of countries enforce these laws, there are still 84 countries in which a…
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.…
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…
Jan 22, 2021       Targeting of religious minorities in Russia, mass atrocities in China, Nigeria as a country of particular concern, and Antisemitism on the rise worldwide. The events of 2020 cast a long…
Mar 11, 2021 There have been notable improvements to religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan in recent years. The government’s ongoing effort to revise the restrictive 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious…
Pancasila is a founding concept of Indonesia, comprising of five principles: monotheism, civilized humanity, national unity, deliberative democracy, and social justice. As Indonesia has witnessed the rise of Islamist extremist activities and sentiment…
Mar 12, 2021 USCIRF Releases Factsheet on Indonesia’s State Ideology of Pancasila Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on the ongoing religious freedom…
Apr 9, 2021 Pancasila is a founding concept of Indonesia, comprising of five principles: monotheism, civilized humanity, national unity, deliberative democracy, and social justice. This concept came about at the onset of…
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…
View the 2021 Annual Report          
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…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Press for at the highest levels and work to secure…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Urge the Uzbek government to close the notorious…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the Uzbek government to revise the 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2019 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Establish a binding agreement with the Uzbek government, as authorized under section 405(c) of IRFA, on…
Status: implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Thematic Area: Religious Prisoners of Conscience Recommendation:Press at the highest levels for the immediate release…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the government of Uzbekistan to revise the 1998 religion law to comply with international…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2020 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Maintain Uzbekistan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Allocate funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Embassy in Tashkent to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Press at the highest levels for the immediate release of individuals imprisoned for their peaceful…
Status: partially_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Work with the government of Uzbekistan to revise the 1998 religion law and other relevant…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Uzbekistan Recommended To: U.S. Department of State Source: 2021 USCIRF Annual Report Recommendation:Include Uzbekistan on the State Department’s Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Funding Recommendation:Prioritize funding for programs that improve the capacity of civil society and the media to…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Terrorism Recommendation:Focus U.S. government funding for deradicalization efforts in Indonesia on teachers,…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2019 Annual Report Thematic Area: Funding Recommendation:Ensure that U.S.-funded programs for Indonesian police and counterterrorism officials…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Special Watch List Recommendation:Include Indonesia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Laws Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to revise the draft Criminal Code bill to remove criminal…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: U.S. Agency for International Development Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Funding Recommendation:Incorporate training on international human rights standards related…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Multilateral Institutions Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to take the lead on human rights and…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: U.S. Congress Source: 2020 Annual Report Thematic Area: Laws Recommendation:Support measures such as H.Res.512 and S.Res.458, which urge the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy…
Jun 17, 2021 The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) mandates USCIRF to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. In addition to making recommendations, USCIRF’s mandate…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Special Watch List Recommendation:Include Indonesia on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List for…
Status: Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Laws Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to revise the draft Criminal Code bill to remove criminal sanctions for…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Laws Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to repeal or revise existing legislation and regulations on…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: U.S. Agency for International Development Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Funding Recommendation:Incorporate training on international human rights standards related…
Status: not_implemented Year: Country: Indonesia Recommended To: State Department Source: 2021 Annual Report Thematic Area: Multilateral Institutions Recommendation:Urge the Indonesian government to take the regional lead on human rights…
Jul 16, 2021 USCIRF Concerned by New Uzbekistan Religion Law Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its disappointment that Uzbekistan’s new Religion Law fails to address the most serious…
Oct 13 WHEN: Oct 13th 2:00pm - Oct 13th 3:00pm…
Additional Name(s): Усмон Дарвишов, Усман Дарвышов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Fayzulla Saidkarimovich Agzamov, Файзулла Саидкаримович Агзамов, Файзулла Саидкаримович Агзамов Gender: Male Current Location: CEP 17, Karaulbazar, Bukhara…
Additional Name(s): Тоҳир Жуманов, Тохир Джуманов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Равшан Қосимов, Равшан Косимов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Avaz Abduvakhovich Tokhtakhodjaev, Аваз Абдувахович Тўхтаходжаев, Аваз Абдувахович Тохтаходжаев Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief…
Additional Name(s): Умар Бадалов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni Reports of…
Additional Name(s): Nematullo Yakubovich Ibragimov, Нематулло Якубович Ибрагимов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni…
Additional Name(s): Muhammad Abdukarimovich Rashidov, Рашидов Муҳаммад Абдукаримович, Мухаммад Абдукаримович Рашидов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief…
Additional Name(s): Sanat Sunnatalievich Salimov, Санат Суннаталиевич Салимов, Санат Суннаталиевич Салимов Gender: Male Perpetrator: Uzbekistan Religion or Belief:…