December 23, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The UN General Assembly on December 19 passed its 14th consecutive resolution which included a condemnation of the Iranian government’s actions against the Baha’i community, underscoring the persecution and discrimination members of this peaceful religious community have faced for decades.

The closure last month of at least 124 Baha’i-owned shops and businesses joins a long list of repressive actions the Iranian government has taken against members of this minority religious community. The government has permitted Baha’is to be killed with impunity; demolished cemeteries; vilified Baha’is through government-controlled media outlets; prohibited Baha’is from working in the public sector and establishing places of worship, schools (including the Baha’i’ Institute of Higher Education), or any independent religious associations; banned post-secondary education for Baha’i students; and imprisoned Baha’i educators and community leaders solely for their religious beliefs, including the Baha’i Seven, who have been jailed since 2008: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.

“The Iranian government should release immediately the Baha’i Seven and other prisoners of conscience. These brave, peaceful, and innocent men and women should be praised as model citizens rather than languishing in prison because of who they are,” said USCIRF Chair Father Thomas J. Reese, S.J.

“Their plight is our plight. As a religious freedom advocate, I am taking up the cases of Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project. The Iranian government must end its vicious campaign to eradicate the Baha’i community and treat them and other religious minorities with dignity and respect, as is their right under Iranian and international law,” said USCIRF Commissioner Kristina Arriaga.

President Rouhani, who has entered the final year of his four-year term, has not fulfilled his campaign promise to strengthen civil liberties for religious minorities. In fact, since assuming power in 2013, the number of religious minority community members who are in prison because of their beliefs has increased, including at least 85 Baha’is. Since 1979, authorities have killed more than 200 Baha’i leaders and dismissed more than 10,000 from government and university jobs. USCIRF has recommended since 1999 that Iran be named a “country of particular concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act for its “systematic, ongoing and egregious” violations of religious freedom, and that the U.S. government continue to identify Iranian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom, freeze their assets, and bar their entry into the United States. For more information on religious freedom conditions in Iran and for recommendations for U.S. policy, please see the Iran chapter in USCIRF’s 2016 Annual Report (in English and Persian).

USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project highlights the plight of individuals who have been imprisoned for their religious beliefs. To hear more about this project or interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-523-3258.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today announced the appointment of Erin D. Singshinsuk as USCIRF’s Executive Director.

“USCIRF is very pleased to welcome Erin D. Singshinsuk to the Commission as its new Executive Director,” said USCIRF Chair Thomas J. Reese, S.J. “In her capacity since September as USCIRF’s Acting Executive Director, Erin has impressed Commissioners with her understanding of USCIRF’s mission, passion for excellence, and grasp of the important role religious freedom plays in U.S. foreign policy. Erin’s managerial skills also will contribute to  USCIRF’s overall efficiency of operations to better fulfill our important mandate.”

Ms. Singshinsuk has over 25 years of experience managing and working directly in support of federal commissions.  She has been affiliated with numerous organizations with an international focus, including the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) where she served as the Vice President for Management and the Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Singshinsuk also has provided support for a variety of Federal Agencies including USCIRF, the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.   USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties. USCIRF uses international human rights standards to monitor the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the brutal attack at Cairo’s main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.  Twenty-four worshippers were killed and 49 wounded: many of those murdered were women and children. USCIRF sends condolences to the family and friends of the victims and wishes those wounded a speedy recovery. 

“USCIRF calls on the Egyptian government to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous act, and immediately provide increased protection to members of the Coptic community, especially given the upcoming Coptic Christmas holiday,” said USCIRF Chair Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J.  “The Egyptian government must respond to this attack against the Coptic community, the deadliest in recent memory, differently than it has in the past, where, in too many instances, there has been inadequate accountability fostering a climate of impunity.  At the same time, we caution the government not to allow this attack to be used to justify further restrictions on civil society.”

Most perpetrators from past large scale incidents that targeted Copts and took place between 2011 and 2013, and even before that, have not been prosecuted.  In addition, repressive laws and discriminatory policies against Copts remain in place.  

The continued existence of these laws and policies and the climate of impunity resulting from the lack of accountability are taking place against a backdrop of deteriorating human rights conditions. These factors mitigate the positive steps the Egyptian government has taken in recent years to address some religious freedom concerns.     

For more information on Egypt, please see USCIRF’s 2016 Annual Report chapter (in English and in Arabic).

To interview a Commisisoner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.