USCIRF Releases New Report on Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Global Overview of Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution –This factsheet highlights the global scale of religious persecution by providing an overview of contexts where large populations have been displaced due to persecution or violence based on religion or belief, including in Afghanistan, Burma, the Central African Republic (CAR), China, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Ukraine, and Vietnam. It also provides an overview of U.S. policy related to these refugee populations, highlighting the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) as a critical pathway for refugees seeking safety in the United States and the U.S. government’s treatment of asylum seekers in expedited removal. Additionally, the factsheet reiterates USCIRF’s recommendations to the U.S. government to further support refugees, including those who have fled religious persecution.

USCIRF monitors the conditions of refugees who have fled severe violations of religious freedom and the U.S. government’s policy responses. As part of this work, USCIRF hosted a hearing in February 2021 on “Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution” and a February 2022 event “USCIRF Conversation on the Global Refugee Compact”. USCIRF’s 2022 Annual Report details religious freedom conditions in the countries where religious persecution has driven displacement, including those discussed in this report.

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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].