Religious freedom conditions in Iran are egregiously poor as the government continues to respond to calls for reform by systematically cracking down on religious minorities. The government uses its official religious interpretation of Islam as an ongoing basis for denying freedom of religion and belief to citizens who express dissent through peaceful protest, including women and LGBTQI+ people.

Source: Worshipers carrying the Iranian flag arrive for the Friday Prayers in Tehran, RUETERS / Firouz

RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Fariba Kamalabadi

 Read More >

RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Mahvash Sabet

 Read More >

RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Ardeshir Fanaian

 Read More >

Recent News

All
Press Releases
Op-Eds
Speeches
Spotlight

USCIRF Abhors Recent Spate of Egregious Religious Freedom Violations in Iran

USCIRF Calls for International Accountability on Two-Year Anniversary of Mahsa Zhina Amini’s Killing

USCIRF Releases Report on Government Misinformation and Disinformation and Religious Freedom

USCIRF Condemns Severe Medical Mistreatment of Imprisoned Gonabadi Sufi in Iran

USCIRF Calls for Additional Sanctions Amidst New Harsh Enforcement of Iran’s Mandatory Hijab Law

View All News

USCIRF Abhors Recent Spate of Egregious Religious Freedom Violations in Iran

USCIRF Calls for International Accountability on Two-Year Anniversary of Mahsa Zhina Amini’s Killing

USCIRF Releases Report on Government Misinformation and Disinformation and Religious Freedom

USCIRF Condemns Severe Medical Mistreatment of Imprisoned Gonabadi Sufi in Iran

USCIRF Calls for Additional Sanctions Amidst New Harsh Enforcement of Iran’s Mandatory Hijab Law

View Press Releases

Religion News Service: Repression of women points to worsening religious freedom trends abroad

The Hill: A glimmer of hope in bringing accountability to religious freedom violators abroad

Newsweek: Say Her Name - Women Persecuted for Their Religion or Belief

The Hill: Iran Must Free Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Washington Examiner: Washington Must Expand the List of Sanctioned Religious Freedom Violators

View Op-Eds

Remarks by USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett, 2013 Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy

View Speeches

The Nexus of Religious Freedom & Women’s Rights in Iran

Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Iran

The Status of Religious Freedom for the Baha’i Community

Religious Restrictions in Iran

Governments Using Shari’a to Impose Death Sentences on LGBTI Persons

View Spotlight

Publications

Annual Report
Reports, Briefs, and Factsheets

2024 Annual Report

2023 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report
View Annual Report Chapters & Translations

Misinformation and Disinformation: Implications for Freedom of Religion of Belief

August 08, 2024

Anti-Conversion Laws Compendium

November 28, 2023

Religious Garb Restrictions

November 20, 2023

25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act

October 16, 2023
View Reports, Briefs, and Factsheets

Congressional Testimony

Congressional Testimony
Government Correspondence

Testimony of Vice Chair Maenza on Global Persecution of Christians

July 09, 2019

Testimony of USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George on "The Crisis of International Religious Freedom"

October 28, 2015

View Congressional Testimony
Sorry, no results found.
View Government Correspondence