Displaying results 1 - 10 of 16

May 12, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in The Wall Street Journal on May 11, 2017 By former USCIRF Commissioner Kristina Arriaga   What will Iran’s May 19 presidential election mean for the Baha’i, the country’s…
Jan 17, 2018 This Op-Ed appeared originally in Religion News Service on January 11, 2018. By former USCIRF Commissioners Sandra Jolley and Kristina Arriaga (RNS) — For most pastors, the beginning of a new…
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…
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…
Jan 15, 2021 USCIRF Condemns Crackdown on Baha’i Religious Observance, Land Ownership in Iran Washington, D.C. - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the alarming escalation of…
Factsheet on Shari’a and LGBTI Persons – In some countries around the world, criminal laws provide for the death penalty based on religious interpretations. This factsheet highlights countries with death penalty laws that target the LGBTI community…
Mar 16, 2021 USCIRF Releases New Report about Shari’a and LGBTI Persons Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following factsheet on governments’ use of…
Mar 26, 2021 In some countries around the world, religion-based laws are used by governments to impose capital punishment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. All of the 10 countries…
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…
May 6, 2021 Since 1979 Iran’s government has shown a consistent disregard for the rights of religious minority communities who  run afoul of the government’s narrow interpretation of Shi’a Islam. Even the majority Shi’a Muslim population must adhere…