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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…
...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…
...that two years later there still have been no prosecutions stemming from Nigeria’s presidential post-election violence that killed more than 800?In April 2011, immediately following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, more than 800 people…
Apr 15, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 15, 2013| By USCIRF  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ongoing attacks and retaliations by Muslims and Christians in Nigeria's violent, religiously and ethnically mixed Middle Belt has left more…
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…
FOR YOUR INFORMATIONMay 6, 2013 Beyond Boko Haram: Nigeria's History of Violence By: Tiffany Lynch  for the Council on Foreign Relations  - Posted on May 6 For almost two years, stories about violence in Nigeria have focused almost exclusively…
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…
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 22, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 22, 2013 | By USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. -- USCIRF urges President Obama to raise concerns about religious freedom violations in Vietnam when he meets at the White House with Vietnamese…
....that Boko Haram has attacked more than 40 churches since 2012? Boko Haram, a Hausa-language name meaning “western education is a sin,” is an Islamic sect that sees the federal and northern state governments, as well as political and religious elites…
Click here to view the August 2013 Factsheet: Nigeria: Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks
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 23, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 23, 2013| By USCIRF USCIRF Letter to President Obama on Upcoming Meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent…
Oct 18, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATIONOctober 4, 2013 | By Robert P. George The following op-ed appeared in CNN World on October 4, 2013. Editor's note: Robert P. George is the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International…
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…
Dec 11, 2013 FOR YOUR INFORMATION December 11, 2013 | By Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in Reuters & the Chicago Tribune on December 10, 2013. December 10 marks Human Rights Day,…
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…
USCIRF Commissioner Eric P. Schwartz testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at a hearing entitled "The Persecution of Religious and Indigenous Communities in Vietnam." Click here to view the full written testimony…
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…
Dec 2, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2014 I USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the horrific November 28 attack on worshippers at Kano’s Central…
Click here to view the January 2015 Factsheet: Religious Freedom and Nigeria's 2015 Elections
Feb 2, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2015 | USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reports of pre-election violence, combined with rising societal and political tensions, increase the likelihood of religiously-motivated violence…
Nigeria will hold presidential, federal parliamentary, and state parliamentary elections on March 28, 2015. The election previously was scheduled for February 14, 2015, but was pushed back due to security concerns in the north-east region of the country.…
Apr 3, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 3, 2015 | USCIRF Calls on President-Elect to Govern Inclusively and Address Inter-Faith Tensions WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
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…
Jul 17, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2015  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hundreds of people have been killed in Boko Haram terrorist attacks throughout northern Nigeria and in sectarian violence in the Middle Belt during the past…
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.…
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…
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…
Feb 19, 2016 FOR YOUR INFORMATION February 19, 2016 | Thomas J. Reese and Mary Ann Glendon The following op-ed appeared in the America Magazine on February 19, 2016   Religion in Vietnam today looks markedly…
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,…
Nov 10, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 10th anniversary of the State Department’s removal of Vietnam’s designation as a “country of particular concern” (or CPC), the U.S. Commission on…
Click here to view Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular Concern Designation 10 Years After its RemovalClick here to view the Vietnamese translation of Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular…
Feb 8, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2017   WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular…
May 15, 2017 Commissioner Jackie Wolcott sent the following letter to Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh and Mrs. Tran Thi Hong on May 15, 2017.Click here to view the Vietnamese translation of the letter. May 15, 2017…
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…
Jul 28, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2017   VIETNAM: Religious Prisoner of Conscience Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh Released USCIRF Urges the United States to Continue Raising Religious Freedom with Vietnam WASHINGTON…
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…
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…
Oral StatementAS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY  Commissioner Thomas Reese, S.J.  U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom Vietnam Caucus/Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Briefing on Religious Freedom in Vietnam October 24, 2017  AS PREPARED FOR…
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,…
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…
Oct 23, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2018   Vice Chair Arriaga Expresses Concern About Patriarch Thích Quảng Độ “I am especially concerned about Thích Quảng Độ’s wellbeing because he will turn 90 on November 27…
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 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…
The full report may be found here.   Summary of Findings   In Nigeria, a range of state and societal violations have adversely impacted religious freedom conditions in the country. As a result, since 2009, USCIRF has recommended the U.S…
Feb 16, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2019   USCIRF Releases Report on Violence in Central Nigeria on Eve of Presidential Elections   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious…
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…
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…
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Additional Name(s): Bùi Văn Trung Gender: Male Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Hoa Hao…
Additional Name(s): Bùi Văn Thâm Gender: Male Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Hoa Hao…
Additional Name(s): Nguyễn Hoàng Nam Gender: Male Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Hoa Hao…
Additional Name(s): Lê Thị Hồng Hạnh Gender: Female Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Hoa Hao…
Additional Name(s): Ibrahim Zakzaky Gender: Male Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Health Concerns: Minor…
Additional Name(s): Zeenatudeen Gender: Female Perpetrator: Nigeria Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a Reports of…
Nov 20, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2019       USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava Adopts Nguyen Bac Truyen Through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project      WASHINGTON, DC –…
Click here to view the country update on Vietnam's law on belief and religion.
The full report may be found here.    For 20 years, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has monitored and evaluated religious freedom conditions in Nigeria. This year also marks 20 years since Nigeria’s return to…
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 10, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2019   USCIRF Releases New Report on Shari’ah Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria   WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)…
Feb 24, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2020 USCIRF Mourns the Passing of Patriarch Thích Quảng Độ Washington, DC — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourned the passing of…
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…
Additional Name(s): Nguyễn Bắc Truyển Gender: Male Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Hoa Hao…
Apr 3, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2020 USCIRF Calls for the Release of Vietnamese Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Bac Truyen Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today…
Gender: Female Perpetrator: Islamic State - West Africa Province (ISWAP) Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other Reports of Torture…
Apr 24, 2020 This op-ed originally appeared in The Hill on Friday, April 24, 2020. This op-ed was also published in Vietnamese by the Nguoi Viet Daily News on Thursday, April 30, 2020.  By USCIRF Commissioner…
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…
May 8, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2020 USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its deep…
Additional Name(s): Đỗ Thị Hồng Gender: Female Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Unspecified/Other…
Additional Name(s): Đoàn Đình Nam Gender: Male Current Location: Xuyen Moc Prison, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province Perpetrator: Vietnam…
Additional Name(s): Đoàn Văn Cư Gender: Male Current Location: Prison No. 5, Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Lê Đức Động Gender: Male Current Location: An Diem Prison, Dai Loc, Quang Nam Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Lê Duy Lộc Gender: Male Current Location: Prison No. 5, Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Lê Xuân Phúc Gender: Male Current Location: Xuyen Moc Prison, Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Lê Trọng Cư Gender: Male Current Location: Prison No. 5, Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Lương Nhật Quang Gender: Male Current Location: Prison No. 6, Thanh Chuong, Nghe An Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Nguyễn Dinh Gender: Male Current Location: Xuan Loc Prison, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Nguyễn Kỳ Lạc Gender: Male Current Location: Xuan Loc Prison, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Nguyễn Thái Bình Gender: Male Current Location: An Diem Prison, Dai Loc, Quang Nam Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…
Additional Name(s): Phan Thanh Tường Gender: Male Current Location: Xuan Loc Prison, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai Perpetrator: Vietnam Ethnic Group: Kinh…