Displaying results 1 - 100 of 400

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…
By Felice D. Gaer, Chair U.S. Commission On International Religious Freedom for the Congressional Human Rights Caucus August 1, 2002 Expert witnesses take questions from the audience. Left to right: Rabbi Abraham Cooper, HRC Co-Chair Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA…
Laos Chapter - 2015 Annual ReportLaos Chapter - 2015 Annual Report (Lao Translation) Laos Chapter - 2014 Annual Report Laos Chapter - 2014 Annual Report (Lao Translation) Laos Chapter - 2013 Annual Report Laos Chapter Summary - 2013 Annual…
May 3, 2006 U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING RELEASE OF 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN…
Hearings on Religious Persecution in Sudan February 15, 2000 (Note: These are unedited and uncorrected transcripts) Commission members (left to right) Firuz Kazemzadeh, Nina Shea, Executive Director Steven McFarland, Chair David Saperstein, Vice…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2008 Contact: Judith Ingram, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 127 [email protected] The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is concerned about the status of Baha'i and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Judith Ingram, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 127 [email protected] WASHINGTON-The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomes the release of four Baha"is from a Yemeni…
...that Sudan repeatedly has used its apostasy law over the past two years against Christians and Muslims?Apostasy is the formal abandonment, or renunciation, of a religious faith. Under Article 126 of Sudan’s 1991 Criminal Act, apostasy from Islam is…
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…
Western Europe Chapter - 2014 Annual ReportWestern Europe Chapter - 2013 Annual Report
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…
Jun 26, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJune 26, 2013 |By Katrina Lantos Swett Editor"s note: Katrina Lantos Swett is the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The views expressed are the writer"s own. The…
...that approximately 500,000 South Sudanese in Sudan are stateless?The status of South Sudanese in Sudan became precarious after South Sudan achieved independence on July 9, 2011. While South Sudan has offered citizenship to Sudanese residents, the…
Jul 26, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Kazakh government reportedly soon will try two activists for their religious freedom-related activities. Atheist blogger Aleksandr Kharlamov, 63, had been held for four…
Nov 8, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONNovember 7, 2013 | By Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on November 7, 2013. As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of…
Click here to view the November 2013 Policy Brief,Sudan's Enduring Question: The Role of Shari'ah in the Constitution and Law
The Sudanese government’s imposition of Shari’ah countrywide in 1983, including on the predominantly animist and Christian South, significantly contributed to the onset of Sudan’s 20 year North-South civil war. Today, concerns about Shari’ah being central…
Nov 27, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONNovember 26, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in the Washington Times on November 25, 2013. WASHINGTON,November 24, 2013 - Earlier this fall, a Sudanese business owner and…
May 16, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 16, 2014 | USCIRF The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the death sentence against Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Sudanese Christian woman…
Jun 25, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2014 | USCIRF The U.S. Commission on  International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is gravely concerned about the Sudanese government’s arrest of Meriam Ibrahim Ishag on document…
USCIRF Vice Chair Dr. Zuhdi Jasser testified on July 23 before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at a hearing entitled “The Troubling Case of Meriam…
Jun 1, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 1, 2015 Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the continuing prosecution of Rev. Yat Michael and Rev. Peter Reith who face the death…
Aug 6, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 6, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomes yesterday’s release from detention of Rev. Yat Michael Ruot and Rev. Peter Yein Reith.  Rev.…
Dec 21, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 21, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the Sudanese government for charging 25 Muslims with apostasy and public…
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,…
Sep 1, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2016   WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Obama soon will visit Laos to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the U.S. Commission on International…
Jan 23, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in Philadelphia Inquirer on January 23, 2017 By former USCIRF Commissioners Thomas J. Reese and Daniel Mark   As our nation commemorated National Religious Freedom Day on Jan…
Jan 27, 2017 The following op-ed appeared in Deseret News on January 27, 2017 By former USCIRF Commissioners Clifford D. May and Tenzin Dorjee   As the world commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day,…
Jun 22, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2017   SUDAN:  USCIRF Urges Secretary of State to Maintain Sanctions “Sudan has not shown sufficient progress on allowing greater religious freedom” WASHINGTON, D.C. –…
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom sent the following letter to Secretary Tillerson on May 30, 2017. Click here to read a PDF version of the letter.  The Honorable Rex Tillerson Secretary of State 2201 C Street, NW…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2017 YEMEN: Release Baha’i Prisoners of Conscience in Yemen USCIRF Calls on Houthis to Cease Harassment of Baha’is   WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is…
Oct 7, 2017 USCIRF Chairman Mark says “Sudan is an egregious violator of religious freedom”  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is disappointed by the decision to permanently…
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,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 30, 2018 YEMEN: USCIRF Condemns Death Sentence for Baha’i USCIRF Chairman Mark calls sentence “unjust and a dangerous precedent for the treatment of religious minorities” in Yemen   WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States…
Click here to view the June 2018 Country Update: Sudan
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…
Aug 27, 2018 This op-ed originally appeared in The Globe Post on September 18, 2018. By former Commission Chair Daniel Mark Hamed bin Haydara, a leader of the Baha’i faith in Yemen, has been imprisoned…
Oct 29, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2018     USCIRF Calls on Yemen to Release Persecuted Baha’is The accused include eight women and a teenage girl and the penalty for many is death WASHINGTON, DC — Tenzin…
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 3, 2019 WASHINGTON, DC – Andy Khawaja, Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), today announced his adoption of Hamid Kamal Mohammad bin Haydara, a Yemeni member of the Baha’i…
Jan 28, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2019   USCIRF Denounces Violence Against Demonstrators in Sudan   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned…
Jun 18, 2019 For Immediate Release June 18, 2019     USCIRF Encouraged by Appointment of Special Envoy to Sudan, Urges Close Scrutiny of Religious Freedom During Transition   Washington, DC -- In response to an…
Jul 1, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              July 1, 2019   USCIRF Calls on Houthi Court in Yemen to Overturn Death Sentence for Religious Prisoner of Conscience Hamid bin Haydara…
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
Aug 17, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2019   USCIRF Applauds Sanctions on Salah Gosh for Gross Human Rights Violations   WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of State publicly…
Jul 24 WHEN: Jul 24th 1:00pm - Jul 24th 1:00pm…
Jan 08 WHEN: Jan 8th 1:30pm…
Oct 9, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2019 USCIRF Responds to Yom Kippur Attack in Germany   Washington, DC (Oct. 9, 2019) –  Based on emerging reports of the killing of at least two people near a…
Oct 13, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2019   WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is alarmed over reports that a Houthi court in Yemen may deport and confiscate the assets…
Click here to view USCIRF's 2019 Kazakhstan Country Update.
Oct 17, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2019   USCIRF Releases New Reports on Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Iran   Washington, DC  – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Dec 9, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2019 USCIRF Raises Alarm about Speech Laws that Restrict Religious Freedom in More than Half of African Countries Briefing Tomorrow to Feature New Report and Recommendations  …
Dec 24, 2019 USCIRF Welcomes the State Department’s Designations of the World’s Worst Violators of Religious Freedom Hopes to See Strong Action in Response WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious…
Jan 24, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2020   USCIRF Honors International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Cautions Against Rising Anti-Semitism   WASHINGTON, DC – On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January…
Mar 2, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2020 USCIRF Delegation Travels to Sudan to Assess Post-Revolution Progress toward Greater Religious Freedom Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Mar 16, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2020 USCIRF Commends Sudan’s Disbanding of Former Regime-Appointed Church Councils Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends…
Mar 23, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2020 USCIRF Deplores Houthi Order to Execute Hamid bin Haydara and Dissolve Baha’i Institutions in Yemen Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
Mar 28, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared in the Arkansas Gazette on Saturday, March 28, 2020.By Gayle Manchin and James W. Carr How far can a government limit religious freedom in the name of fighting the coronavirus…
Apr 6, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared in Opinio Juris on Monday, April 6, 2020. By Gayle Manchin and James W. Carr How far can a government limit religious freedom in the name of fighting the coronavirus (…
Apr 9, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2020 USCIRF Calls on Houthis in Yemen to Abide by Commitment to Release Hamid bin Haydara Washington DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges…
Additional Name(s): حامد بن حيدرة Gender: Male Perpetrator: Houthis Religion or Belief: Bahá`í Reports of Torture:…
Additional Name(s): Bolatbek Dyusenbekovich Nurgaliyev Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Ernar Samatovich Samatov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
Additional Name(s): Beket Tastanbekovich Mynbasov Gender: Male Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty Perpetrator: Kazakhstan…
      U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 2020 Annual Report Release Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Virtual Release Press Conference Transcript Virtual Launch Transcript On April 28, 2020, USCIRF released its 2020 Annual…
May 5, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2020 USCIRF Commends the Criminalization of FGM in Sudan Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed the decision of the Sudanese transitional…
Read the full report here.This report provides a country update on religious freedom conditions in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In 2016, the Lao government updated its regulation of religious freedom with the Decree on Management and Protection…
May 6, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   May 6, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Laos Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the…
Jun 2, 2020 USCIRF Applauds Executive Order to Advance International Religious Freedom Washington, DC –The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order on…
Jun 4, 2020 This op-ed was originally published by Deseret News, on June 4, 2020. By USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins and Vice Chair Gayle Manchin   Sitting across the table from Sudan’s new prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, in…
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…
Published Op-ed Jun 15, 2020 This op-ed was originally published by Forward, on June 15, 2020 By USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin, USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer, and Senator James Lankford   While the United States was celebrating…
Jun 16, 2020 Gayle Manchin Elected as Chair of Bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Tony Perkins and Anurima Bhargava as Vice Chairs Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today elected…
Jun 19, 2020 USCIRF Welcomes Senator Charles Schumer’s Appointment of Frederick A. Davie to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Washington, DC – Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced on June 17…
Jun 25, 2020 This op-ed was originally published by Newsweek, on June 25, 2020. By USCIRF Commissioners Nury Turkel and Johnnie Moore   Human rights activists don’t often think first of countries like France, Germany,…
Jun 29, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Applauds the U.S. Government Pledge to Support the Democratic Transition in Sudan Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the U.S.…
Jul 15, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   USCIRF Applauds Sudan’s Repeal of Apostasy Law through Passage of New Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Jul 31, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Commends Release of Religious Prisoner of Conscience Hamid Bin Haydara and 5 Other Baha’is in Yemen Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Johnnie Moore Advocacy: USCIRF Condemns Houthis for Summoning 19 Baha’is to Stand Trial on Spurious…
Aug 13, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared in the Washington Examiner, on August 13, 2020. By USCIRF Vice Chairs Tony Perkins and Anurima Bhargava Earlier this year, we joined hundreds gathered under a large tent outside…
Title Sudan Chapter - 2020 Arabic Translation File Upload Sudan_Arabic.pdf Language Arabic Year 2020…
Title Laos Chapter - 2019 Lao Translation File Upload Laos 2019_Lao translation.pdf Language Lao Year 2019…
Title 2026 Annual Report - Kazakhstan Chapter File Upload USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Kazakhstan.pdf Language English Year…
Aug 21, 2020 USCIRF Calls for Action on UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recognizes the United Nations’…
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…
Nov 06 WHEN: Nov 6th 2:00pm…
Jul 25 WHEN: Jul 25th 5:00pm - Jul 25th 7:00pm…
Jul 16 WHEN: Jul 16th 4:00pm - Jul 18th 2:00pm…
Dec 10 WHEN: Dec 10th 9:30pm…
Mar 04 WHEN: Mar 4th 2:30pm…
Sep 16 WHEN: Sep 16th 10:30pm - Sep 15th 12:00pm…
Sep 4, 2020 USCIRF Releases New Policy Update Highlighting One Year of Progress Advancing Religious Freedom in Sudan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the…
Click here for the Sudan Policy Update   The Sudanese transitional government has made a number of significant religious freedom reforms during the past year. This policy update examines religious freedom conditions in Sudan after the 2019…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USCIRF Releases New Policy Update Highlighting One Year of Progress Advancing Religious Freedom in Sudan Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new…
Sep 22, 2020 USCIRF Urges Administration to Increase Refugee Resettlement Ceiling Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today reiterated its recommendation that the U.S.…