Nov 23, 2021

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Violations in Belarus

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report on religious freedom violations in Belarus:

Belarus Country Update – Religious freedom conditions in the Eastern European country of Belarus have deteriorated dramatically amidst a brutal government crackdown on civil society following widespread anti-government protests starting in August 2020. Since then, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko has purged Catholic and Orthodox Christian clergy critical of his authoritarian tactics, raided Catholic and Protestant worship services, and publicly promoted anti-Semitic conspiracies and rhetoric.

USCIRF has long monitored religious freedom conditions in Belarus, and discussed the deterioration in its 2021 Annual Report and USCIRF Spotlight podcast. This report anticipates important discussions about the U.S. policy response to the assault on Belarusian civil society, which includes significant violations of religious freedom.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].