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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…
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2226
November 27, 2001
Commission members (left to right): Richard D. Land, Nina Shea, The Hon. Charles R. Stith, Executive Director Steven T. McFarland,…
Jan 11, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 11, 2013| By USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly condemns a series of terror attacks that took place on January 10 targeting Pakistani Shi'a Muslims.…
Mar 2, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMARCH 1, 2013| By USCIRF
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) marked the 2nd anniversary of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti with a renewed call for the Pakistani government…
. . . 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 14, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 14, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett
The following was published in the Washington Post, On Faith on May 14, 2013.
Fifteen years ago, on May 14, 1998, U.S. House of Representatives voted in…
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 particularly severe religious freedom violations are increasingly perpetrated by non-state actors in failing or failed states?One of the greatest emerging threats to freedom of religion or belief comes not from the actions of governments but from…
Jul 2, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 2, 2013 | By USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A suicide bomber attacked a Shia neighborhood in Quetta, the capital city of Pakistan's Baluchistan province, on Sunday June 30, killing at least 36…
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…
Click here to view the July 2013 Factsheet: Pakistan’s History of Violence: A Chronology of Targeted Violence against Religious CommunitiesClick here to view the July 2013 Briefing on the Future of Religious Freedom in Pakistan…
Aug 12, 2013
For Your Information
August 12, 2013 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in Foreign Policy on August 9, 2013:
On Sunday, August 11, Pakistan will celebrate National Minorities Day, giving recently-…
Aug 22, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 21, 2013 | By Robert P. George and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in The Washington Post on August 21, 2013.
Although religious freedom is a pivotal human right,…
Sep 11, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONSeptember 11, 2013 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on September 11, 2013.
Editor's note: Robert P. George is chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
Sep 25, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
September 20, 2013 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on September 20, 2013.
As the UN General Assembly begins its new session,…
Sep 25, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 25, 2013| By USCIRF
On Sunday September 22, reportedly the worst attack on Pakistani Christians in that nation's history took place. On that day, two suicide bombers attacked the All…
Oct 18, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 18, 2013| USCIRF
During his October 23 White House meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, USCIRF urges President Obama to raise concerns about the dire religious freedom…
The Christian Science Monitor -- JFK's call for religious freedom can transform places like Pakistan
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…
Dec 3, 2013
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONDecember 2, 2013 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in the Providence Journal on November 30, 2013.
Washington - As the nation celebrates Thanksgiving, Jewish Americans are also…
Jan 28, 2014
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
January 27, 2014 | By Robert P. George
The following op-ed appeared in The Hill on January 27, 2014.
I testified before the Congressional Tom Lantos Human…
Click here to view the August 2014 Factsheet: Pakistan: Violence Towards Religious Communities in Pakistan
Nov 10, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2014 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the face of escalating violations worldwide of religious freedom, an initiative that the U.S. Commission on International…
Many countries around the world have laws that punish expression deemed blasphemous, defamatory of religion, or contemptuous or insulting to religion or religious symbols, figures, or feelings. The application of these laws has resulted in…
Mar 17, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 17, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, March 15, the day an official U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) delegation to Pakistan departed the country, Pakistani…
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…
May 14, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 14, 2015 | USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Pakistani Taliban splinter group now reportedly affiliated with ISIL, on May 13 murdered at least 45 Ismaili Muslims in Karachi. The killers…
Jun 3, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONJune 3, 2015 | Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon
The following op-ed appeared in The National Interest on June 3, 2015
A court in Afghanistan recently sentenced eleven police officers…
Aug 11, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAugust 11, 2015 | Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon
The following op-ed appeared in Foreign Policy on August 10, 2015
As their nation celebrates National Minorities Day on Tuesday, August…
Sep 28, 2015
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
September 28, 2015 | Daniel I. Mark and Katrina Lantos Swett
The following op-ed appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on September 27, 2015
Washington hosted two dramatically…
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 30, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 30, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the heinous attack on an Ahmadi Muslim factory and…
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…
Feb 1, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the arrest, detention, and sentencing of Abul Shakoor, an 80-year…
Mar 1, 2016
Pakistan: On Fifth Anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti Assassination, USCIRF Calls for Reform and Repeal of Blasphemy Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on March…
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 Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. testified on July 15, 2016 before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing titled "Blasphemy Laws and Censorship by States and Non-State Actors: Examining Global Threats to Freedom of Expression."
From the…
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…
Oct 14, 2016
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
October 14, 2016 | Kristina Arriaga and Sandra Jolley
The following op-ed appeard in Newsweek Pakistan on October 14, 2016
“I raise my voice… not so I can shout, but so that…
Oct 27, 2016
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
October 27, 2016 | By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. and Daniel Mark
The following op-ed appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 27, 2016
Abdul Shakoor is a member of the…
Dec 9, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the raid by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on the…
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…
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,…
Feb 13, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 13, 2018
USCIRF Mourns Death of Leading Pakistani Human Rights Defender
USCIRF Chairman Mark says Ms. Jahangir “will always be remembered as a fearless advocate for human rights”…
Jul 24, 2018
This op-ed originally appeared in Religion News Service on July 24, 2018.
By Gayle Manchin and Johnnie Moore
(RNS) - This week, as hundreds of religious leaders, nonprofit heads and government officials…
Aug 7, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 7, 2018
At Gathering of 37,000 Ahmadi Muslims, USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore Vows to Make Religious Freedom in Pakistan a Priority
Commissioner Moore also formally adopts…
Oct 31, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2018
USCIRF Welcomes Pakistani Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Death Sentence Against Asia Bibi
WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Commission on International…
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…
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 –…
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…
Feb 26, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 26, 2019
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore Calls on Pakistan to Release Prisoner of Conscience Abdul Shakoor
WASHINGTON, DC – Johnnie Moore, Commissioner of the United…
Mar 19, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2019
USCIRF Welcomes Release of Religious Prisoner of Conscience Abdul Shakoor
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (…
Apr 16, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2019
USCIRF Condemns Terrorist Attack on Shi’a Muslims in Pakistan
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF…
May 8, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019
USCIRF Statement on Asia Bibi’s Arrival in Canada and Bombing in Lahore
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Jun 24
WHEN:
Jun 24th 6:59pm…
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
Jul 24
WHEN:
Jul 24th 1:00pm
-
Jul 24th 1:00pm…
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…
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
Central Jail, Multan, Punjab
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Unspecified/Other…
Additional Name(s):
Ayaz Nizami
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
Central Jail Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief…
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)…
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am…
Read the full report here.This report is an examination of religious freedom conditions in Nicaragua following the outbreak of anti-government protests in April 2018 that continue to occur around the country. Throughout this political crisis, the Catholic…
Mar 11, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Nicaragua
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Mar 31, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2020
USCIRF Troubled with Targeting of Hazara Shi’a in Pakistan amid Coronavirus Lockdown
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Apr 2, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2020
USCIRF Dismayed by Lack of Accountability for the Murder of Daniel Pearl
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its…
Apr 13, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2020
USCIRF Troubled by Denial of Food Aid to Pakistani Hindus and Christians
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by the…
May 8, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Establishment of Pakistan’s National Commission for Minorities as a First Step
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Additional Name(s):
Ramesh Kumar Malhi
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Hindu
Reports of Torture…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of Medical…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns:
Physical disability…
Gender:
Female
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Catholic
Health Concerns:
Kidney stones
Reports of…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports…
Additional Name(s):
Noman Masih
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of…
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…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture:
No
Reports of…
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
District Jail, Lahore
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other…
Gender:
Male
Perpetrator:
Pakistan
Religion or Belief:
Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture:
Yes
Reports…
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…
Jun 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Releases New Report about Pakistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:…
USCIRF Releases Report on the Anti-cult Movement and Religious Regulation in Russia and Central Asia
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)…
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…
Jul 30, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Expresses Outrage at the Killing of U.S. Citizen Over Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Johnnie Moore
Advocacy:
Article: Catholic News Agency -- US leaders tell persecuted believers:…
Additional Name(s):
Khayrullo Turdiyevich Tursunov
Gender:
Male
Current Location:
Investigation Prison No. 5 in Karshi (Shaykhali Prison)
Perpetrator:
Uzbekistan…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Pakistan Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Pakistan.pdf
Language
English
Year
2026…
Title
2026 Annual Report - Nicaragua Chapter
File Upload
USCIRF 2026 Annual Report Nicaragua.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…
Read the full report here.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. government enter into a binding agreement with Pakistan as authorized under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Such an agreement with defined…