To combat the human rights and religious freedom violations that have occurred as a result of online hate speech, some social media companies now regulate speech on their platforms. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms often have rules that ban certain types of speech—including hate speech directed at religious communities. However, the excess removal of speech can also impact the right to religious freedom and religious expression of users.

Lou Ann Sabatier, Principal at Sabatier Consulting, joins us today to discuss content moderation and its impact on freedom of religion or belief globally.

See USCIRF’s factsheet Protecting Religious Freedom Online

USCIRF Welcomes Reappointed and Newly Appointed Commissioners, Expresses Gratitude to Outgoing Commissioners

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the reappointment of Nury Turkel, as well as the appointment of Frank R. Wolf and David G. Curry to the Commission. Nury Turkel was appointed to a second two-year term by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Frank R. Wolf and David G. Curry were both appointed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to serve two-year terms.

“Vice Chair Turkel’s demonstrated commitment to advancing freedom of religion or belief has been an asset to the Commission, and we are thrilled by his reappointment,” said outgoing Chair Nadine Maenza. “We also welcome the appointments of Frank R. Wolf and David G. Curry, who each bring significant experience advancing international religious freedom policy.”

Frank R. Wolf was formerly a distinguished senior fellow of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, representing the 10th district of the state of Virginia and was a former co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Frank Wolf's advocacy in Congress was integral to the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

David G. Curry is currently the President and CEO of Open Doors USA. In this role as CEO, he has traveled extensively in the field to help those who have been marginalized because of their beliefs as well as helping those communities that have been targets of persecution. He formerly served as CEO and president of various Christians organizations that serve homeless and neglected children internationally.

“We very much welcome the breadth of knowledge and insight that our new colleagues will bring to USCIRF,” said Vice Chair Nury Turkel. “We also extend sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Commissioners – Chair Nadine Maenza, Commissioner Anurima Bhargava, Commissioner James W. Carr, and Commissioner Tony Perkins – for their dedication and tireless advocacy on behalf of those persecuted for their religion or belief.”

USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.

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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].

USCIRF Welcomes the U.S. Government’s Issuance of a General License Including Northeast Syria

Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the United States Department of the Treasury’s release of a general license authorizing wider forms of private economic activity in areas of northeast and northwest Syria outside the control of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and liberated from the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS). Since 2020, USCIRF has called on the U.S. government to grant such a license—which allows certain activities in specified areas to avoid the restrictions of existing sanctions on Syria—for the northeast, an autonomous region of the country that is uniquely supportive of religious freedom.

“USCIRF commends the U.S. government for granting a general license to allow certain economic activities in non-regime held areas of Syria including those led by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria,” said USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza. “Since 2020, USCIRF has urged this action to recognize and protect the religious and ethnic pluralism intentionally cultivated by the AANES and the Syrian Democratic Forces, who have allied with the United States and international partners to liberate the area from ISIS.”

The United States maintains a comprehensive sanctions program against the Syrian regime, an egregious violator of human rights including the right of freedom of religion or belief. The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, which went into effect on June 17, 2020, promotes accountability for the Assad regime’s abuses. In select cases, the Treasury Department issues general licenses to authorize private U.S. investment and other economic activities otherwise prohibited by U.S. sanctions against foreign governments.

“Northeastern Syria under the AANES has become a place in which diverse ethnic and religious groups, such as Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and Yazidis, can cooperate on civic projects,” USCIRF Commissioner Sharon Kleinbaum said. “This general license will allow for critical economic development in a region—outside the Assad regime’s control—that uniquely fosters an environment in which religious freedom can flourish.”

On May 10, 2022, USCIRF held a hearing on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Syria, at which witnesses gave evidence supporting USCIRF’s recommendation since 2020 that the U.S. government grant a general license covering northeastern Syria. In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State designate Syria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

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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].