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FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | By USCIRF

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), today testified before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations on “Anti-Semitism: A Growing Threat to all Faiths.”

Click here to view the full written testimony. 

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February 26, 2013| By USCIRF

USCIRF Chair, Dr. Katrina Lantoss Swett testified on February 26, 2013 before the Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Demonstrations in Tahrir Square: Two Years Later: What Has Changed? 

Click here to view the written testimony.

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January 28, 2013| By USCIRF 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "The trial and conviction of Pastor Abedini represent an outrageous miscarriage of justice and  yet one more damning piece of evidence pointing to the rampant denial of religious freedom and the absence of any semblance of rule of law in Iran, " said Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

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January 16, 2013| By USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- USCIRF today called for the immediate release of Saeed Abedeni, an Iranian-American pastor reportedly awaiting a January 21 trial on trumped-up national security charges that date back to 2000 when he lived in Iran.

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January 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.  The United States must press the Pakistani government to do more to protect their minority Shi’a Muslim community.

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January 8, 2013 | By USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a policy brief, “Russia: Unruly State of Law.”  This policy brief, which analyzes the state of religious freedom and related rights in Russia, reflects USCIRF’s long-standing focus on that country and the findings from the Commission’s latest visit in late September 2012.  

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December 7, 2012 | By USCIRF

The Egyptian Constituent Assembly on November 30 approved a draft constitution that includes problematic provisions limiting freedom of religion or belief for all Egyptians.

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December 3, 2012| By USCIRF

Marton Gyongyosi, a Hungarian politician from the far-right Jobbik party,  on November 26 issued a statement in Parliament urging the government to create a list of Jews who pose a “national security risk.” Gyongyosi serves as the leader of Jobbik, which is the third largest party in the Hungarian parliament with 44 of the 386 seats.  The Hungarian government condemned the remarks.

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November 20, 2012 | By USCIRF

USCIRF today welcomes a Pakistani court’s decision to drop all charges against Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl accused of blasphemy, and applauds the successful efforts of Paul Bhatti, the Adviser on National Harmony to the Pakistani Prime Minister.  The Islamabad High Court reportedly dropped the charges because there were no witnesses who had seen her burning pages of the Qur'an.  The Zardari government now has an opportunity to build on this positive outcome and address the culture of impunity and intolerance that is plaguing Pakistan. 

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November 8, 2012| By USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is deeply concerned about the increasing deterioration of religious freedoms for Muslims in Ethiopia.  Since July 2011, the Ethiopian government has sought to force a change in the sect of Islam practiced nationwide and has punished clergy and laity who have resisted.  Muslims throughout Ethiopia have been arrested during peaceful protests: On October 29, the Ethiopia government charged 29 protestors with terrorism and attempting to establish an Islamic state.

August 31, 2012 | Azizah al-Hibri and Robert P. George, Commissioners

For Muslim Americans and other concerned citizens across the nation, news of still more violence against the largely Muslim Rohingya of Burma highlights the plight of one of the world’s most persecuted communities and the need for a global response. The latest bloodshed, coupled with two prior months of riots and murders, has left more than 700 dead and 80,000 homeless. This violence has been compounded by the behavior of the Burmese security forces who, according to major human rights organizations, have participated in killings and rapes as well as mass arrests against the Rohingya.