Sep 16, 2025
Religious Freedom in Kazakhstan Remains Poor Despite Government ClaimsWashington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Kazakhstan:Kazakhstan Country Update - In June 2025, a…
The government of Uzbekistan employs a series of laws to curtail freedom of religion or belief. This includes the 2021 law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, known as the “religion law,” which places bureaucratic restrictions on…
Sep 22, 2025
Uzbekistan Issued Over 1,250 Administrative Penalties for Religious Activities in 2024Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Uzbekistan:Uzbekistan’s Administrative…
As the refugee population increases, including those fleeing religious persecution, more than two-thirds remain in neighboring countries. Cases in South and Southeast Asia, such as Uyghurs in Thailand, Afghans in Pakistan, and the Rohingya in Bangladesh…
Oct 1, 2025
USCIRF Releases Report on Refugees Fleeing Religious PersecutionWashington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on refugees fleeing religious persecution:The Responsibility of…
On September 9, 2025, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a hearing: Laws Regulating Religion in Central Asia. USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and Vice Chair Asif Mahmood led the hearing. Members of civil society…
In June 2025, a USCIRF delegation traveled to Kyrgyzstan to meet with civil society and government officials to discuss religious freedom conditions, including the passage of the 2025 religion law and amendments to related legislation. These legislative…
This factsheet examines current and proposed regulatory frameworks in five East African countries—Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—that collectively demonstrate a mix of growing restrictions alongside constitutional protections. All five are…
Dec 19, 2025
The op-ed was originally published by The Hill on December 19, 2025.By U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman, USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and Vice Chair Asif MahmoodThe two most populous countries in the world have very troubling issues related to…