Search
Displaying results 1 - 100 of 287
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…
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,…
November 6, 2003
Remarks by President George W. Bush on the 20th Anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy
United States Chamber of Commerce
Washington, D.C.
President Bush's remarks on the 20th Anniversary of the National Endowment…
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…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2004
Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today met with Secretary of State Colin Powell as part of…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 12, 2005Contact:Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned that members of religious minority communities who have…
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…
Senate Russell Office Building
July 25, 2007
Hearing Agenda
Opening Remarks- Michael Cromartie, Commission Chair
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Anna G. Eshoo, (D-CA)
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Christopher Shays, (R-…
Senate Russell Office Building
July 25, 2007
Hearing Agenda
Opening Remarks- Michael Cromartie, Commission Chair
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Anna G. Eshoo, (D-CA)
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Christopher Shays, (R-…
Senate Russell Office Building
July 25, 2007
Hearing Agenda
Opening Remarks- Michael Cromartie, Commission Chair
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Anna G. Eshoo, (D-CA)
Statement (as Delivered)- Representative Christopher Shays, (R-…
Sep 19, 2007
Dirksen Senate Office Building
September 19, 2007
Summary
Agenda
Opening Remarks - Michael Cromartie, Commission Chair
Remarks - Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Remarks - Sen. Gordon Smith…
Sep 19, 2007
Dirksen Senate Office Building
September 19, 2007
Summary
Agenda
Opening Remarks - Michael Cromartie, Commission Chair
Remarks - Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Remarks - Sen. Gordon Smith (R-…
Hearing on the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2004 and the Designation of Countries of Particular Concern
Before the House International Relations Committee of the United States House of Representatives
October 6, 2004
USCIRF…
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…
Wednesday, September 19, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138
SUMMARY
The United States is taking measures to step up processing of Iraqi refugees, a senior State Department official told a hearing of the U.S.…
Wednesday, September 19, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138
OBJECTIVES
Although observers have watched Iraq's cycle of sectarian violence with growing alarm, neither governments nor the media have considered the…
September 19, 2007
Good afternoon. My name is Michael Cromartie, and I serve as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I'd like to welcome you today to our second of two hearings on the situation in Iraq. The first…
September 19, 2007
And I welcome you to an appropriations committee hearing room in the Senate. It's nice to have an appropriation committee hearing room for a proceeding like this, an important proceeding. It doesn't cost the government any…
Hearing on Sectarian Violence in Iraq and the Refugee Crisis: Remarks by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
September 19, 2007
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to this meeting of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I'm honored to testify before you today on the plight of refugees in Iraq.
Since the…
September 19, 2007
I'm Congressman Steve Israel. I represent Long Island, New York. In addition to that, I have been working on a bipartisan initiative with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on areas where we can agree on Iraq. Our debate…
September 19, 2007
Thank you for asking me to appear. I have been asked today to discuss primarily the effects of sectarian violence on religious freedom and human rights, with particular attention to the Shiite perspective and Shiite-on-Shiite…
September 19, 2007
Research Memo
Can the U.S. Influence Political Progress in Iraq?
*Judith S. Yaphe
Summary:
Regardless of the debate over the success or failure of the military surge in Iraq, Americans and Iraqis agree on one key…
September 19, 2007
Introduction
I would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to appear before you on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. UNHCR is charged by the international community to ensure refugee protection and to…
September 19, 2007
The Displacement Crisis
Iraq is experiencing the worst human displacement of its history, with over 2.2 million persons displaced within its borders and an additional two million who have fled the country to the surrounding region…
September 19, 2007
Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Commission, it is an honor to appear before you to discuss issues related to Iraqi refugees. What I want to do today is lay out what we have done, are doing and plan to do to protect…
July 25, 2007
The grave, life-threatening conditions faced by Iraq's minority religious communities have not been fully aired in Washington, much less the national media. Representatives from these communities have been requesting such an…
Mar 20, 2008
Wednesday, September 19, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138
SUMMARY
The United States is taking measures to step up processing of Iraqi refugees, a senior State Department…
Mar 20, 2008
September 19, 2007
Good afternoon. My name is Michael Cromartie, and I serve as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I'd like to welcome you today to our second of two hearings on…
Mar 20, 2008
September 19, 2007
And I welcome you to an appropriations committee hearing room in the Senate. It's nice to have an appropriation committee hearing room for a proceeding like this, an important proceeding.…
Hearing on Sectarian Violence in Iraq and the Refugee Crisis: Remarks by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Mar 20, 2008
September 19, 2007
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to this meeting of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I'm honored to testify before you today on the…
Mar 20, 2008
September 19, 2007
Thank you for asking me to appear. I have been asked today to discuss primarily the effects of sectarian violence on religious freedom and human rights, with particular attention to the…
September 19, 2007
Research Memo
Can the U.S. Influence Political Progress in Iraq?
*Judith S. Yaphe
Summary:
Regardless of the debate over the success or failure of the military surge in Iraq, Americans and Iraqis agree on one key…
September 19, 2007
Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Commission, it is an honor to appear before you to discuss issues related to Iraqi refugees. What I want to do today is lay out what we have done, are doing and plan to do to protect…
September 19, 2007
Introduction
I would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to appear before you on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. UNHCR is charged by the international community to ensure refugee protection and to…
September 19, 2007
The Displacement Crisis
Iraq is experiencing the worst human displacement of its history, with over 2.2 million persons displaced within its borders and an additional two million who have fled the country to the surrounding region…
Wednesday, September 19, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138
OBJECTIVES
Although observers have watched Iraq's cycle of sectarian violence with growing alarm, neither governments nor the media have considered the…
July 25, 2007
The grave, life-threatening conditions faced by Iraq's minority religious communities have not been fully aired in Washington, much less the national media. Representatives from these communities have been requesting such an…
July 25, 2007
Good morning. My name is Michael Cromartie, and I chair the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I'd like to welcome you to a hearing to examine the serious threats faced by Iraq's communities of antiquity: the…
July 25, 2007
Introduction
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and honorable members of the commission. It is an honor to have been invited by you to come and testify today to the commission about Iraq's religious and ethnic minorities. As the only…
July 25, 2007
You rightfully heard, I think, a very extensive presentation by my colleague. And I'd just like to associate myself with her. I've hit my stopwatch and I'll go no more than four minutes, because I can just basically say…
July 25, 2007
Minorities in Iraq
The issue of minorities in Iraq needs to be viewed in light of the current state of affairs in Iraq. The situation is unbelievably bad for minorities. It is difficult to imagine how much worse things could become,…
July 25, 2007
My name is Pascale Warda. I am an Assyrian Christian from the Chaldean Catholic Church, and I live in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2004, during the first transitional Iraqi government, under Prime Minister Ayad Alawi I held the position of…
July 25, 2007
I, Donny George Youkhanna, confirm that I am a citizen of Iraq, I was born in Habania, Anbar province, in Iraq, on the day of twenty third of the month of October in the year of nineteen hundred and fifty, I am an Assyrian Christian,…
Threats to Iraq's Communities of Antiquity: Testimony by Michael Youash
July 25, 2007
Introduction
I would like to thank the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for distinguishing itself yet again on the subject of…
July 25, 2007
The Sabian-Mandaean religion is one of the oldest monotheistic religious groups in the Middle East living mainly in Southern Iraq, and some in Iran. The religion is independent of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It follows the…
Transcript
Introductory Remarks by Chair Michael Cromartie
Introductory Remarks by Commissioner Imam Talal Y. Eid
Remarks by Chair Cromartie
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-…
Event Transcript
Commissioner Statements
Statement of Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Helsinki Commission
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE…
Event Transcript
Commissioner Statements
Statement of Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Helsinki Commission
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE…
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-…
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;…
...that Turkey’s strict adherence to secularism has lead to religious freedom violations for Muslims and non-Muslims alike?Turkey imported and enshrined the French concept of secularism, or laïcité, into its constitution on February 5, 1937. Often…
...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,…
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…
...that since August 2011 Turkey has returned more than 300 previously-expropriated properties to the country’s religious minority communities? However, many more properties have not been returned.Starting in 1936, the Turkish government expropriated…
Oct 31, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2013 | By USCIRF
USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Upcoming Meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Jul 22, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) joins the U.S. State Department in condemning in the strongest terms the actions of the terrorist group…
Aug 6, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 6, 2014 | USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns in the strongest terms the actions that the terrorist group ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the…
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…
Nov 10, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two anniversaries this month highlight the importance of continually confronting and combatting anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it arises.…
Nov 20, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 20, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today urged the Turkish government to reopen the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary, the…
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…
Apr 23, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 23, 2015 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today solemnly marks the 100 year anniversary of the tragic killing of over one million…
Jun 8, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 8, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) solemnly marks the one year anniversary of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL)…
Aug 3, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) this week solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant's (ISIL) attacks in…
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…
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…
Nov 24, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 24, 2015
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on the Turkish government to reopen the Greek Orthodox Theological School of Halki,…
Dec 7, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 7, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today issued the following statement:
USCIRF calls on the U.S. government to…
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…
Dec 17, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 17, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C – A new study of textbooks used in Turkey’s compulsory “Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge” class found both improvements and issues of concern. The U.S.…
A new study of textbooks used in Turkey's compulsory "Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge" class found both improvements and issues of concern. USCIRF sponsored this study, which was conducted by Ziya Meral, a Turkish expert and 2010 USCIRF Crapa Fellow…
Mar 18, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MArch 18, 2016
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the State Department’s decision proclaiming that groups including Yazidis,…
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,…
USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George testified on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing entitled "Confronting the Genocide of Religious Minorities: A Way Forward."From the testimony:
"USCIRF in 2015 called on the U…
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…
Nov 10, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As coalition forces begin the liberation of Mosul, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) notes that November 13 is the one-year…
May 30, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2017
KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ: New USCIRF Report on Religious Minorities in the KRI
USCIRF recognizes the KRI’s religious freedoms as “comparatively robust” as…
Click here to view the report: Wilting in the Kurdish Sun: The Hopes and Fears of Religious Minorities in Northern IraqClick here to view the printable version of the report (High resolution)
Click here to view the condensed version of the…
Jun 9, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Commends House Passage of Genocide Accountability Act
Urges Senate Action
USCIRF declares that “the perpetrators of genocide must be held to account”
WASHINGTON, D.C. –…
Oct 5, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 5, 2017
H.R. 390: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Genocide Bill
USCIRF Chairman Mark calls committee action “a key step toward helping victims of ISIS genocide”
…
Oct 6, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 7, 2017
TURKEY: USCIRF Delegation Visits Imprisoned U.S. Citizen Pastor Andrew Brunson
Pastor Brunson says, "Knowing that I am not forgotten is important to me"
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Almost…
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"
…
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,…
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…
On February 15, 2018, Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing on religious prisoners of conscience.
In her testimony, Vice Chair Arriaga discussed USCIRF's Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project…
Mar 13, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2018
USCIRF Strongly Condemns New Indictment Against Pastor Andrew Brunson, Including Possible Life Sentence
“USCIRF urges President Trump and others in the administration to redouble…
Apr 16, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 16, 2018
Turkey Misses Opportunity to Release Pastor Andrew Brunson, Sets Next Hearing for May 7
“We are deeply disappointed that Turkish officials today decided to prolong their…
May 7, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2018
Turkey Postpones Hearing to July 18, Sends Pastor Andrew Brunson Back to Prison
“The judge’s decision at the conclusion of today’s hearing to dismiss all of the…
Jul 18, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2018
Pastor Andrew Brunson Returned to Turkish Prison
“The government of Turkey continues to make a mockery of justice in its treatment of Pastor Brunson,” said USCIRF Vice Chair…
Jul 24, 2018
This op-ed was originally published by the Wall Street Journal on Jul9 19, 2018.
By former USCIRF Commissioner Kristina Arriaga
President Trump tweeted Wednesday evening: “A total disgrace that Turkey…
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom sent the following letter to President Donald Trump on September 14, 2018.
President Donald Trump
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write to you on behalf of the U.S…
Oct 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2018
Pastor Andrew Brunson Is Released
“While we welcome this good news, we should not lose sight of other religious freedom concerns in this country,” said Commissioner…
Oct 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2018
Pastor Andrew Brunson and Wife Depart Turkey
Commissioner Tony Perkins Accompanies Pastor Brunson and Wife Norine on Plane to U.S.
“I want to again commend President…
Nov 29, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2018
USCIRF Applauds Passage of H.R. 390 by Congress
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today applauded…
Click here to view the Policy Update: Religious Freedom and Related Human Rights 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 (…
Dec 11, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2018
USCIRF Welcomes President Trump Signing the Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on…