USCIRF

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media on the opening day of the winter session of the Parliament, at Parliament House, New Delhi, India, Dec. 4, 2023.

U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges White House to list India as country of concern

Dec 19, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The USCIRF said it was “alarmed by India’s increased transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.” Read more

Burned vehicles after Good Friday raid on April 7, 2023, in Ngban, Benue state, Nigeria.

Advocates for persecuted Christians in Nigeria question U.S. report that portrays Fulani as victims

May 2, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Advocates for persecuted Christians in Nigeria are criticizing a new report prepared by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.   Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, is monitored by police in early August 2022.

Imprisoned Nicaraguan bishop deserves US support, religious freedom advocates say

Feb 14, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“This miscarriage of justice will not be forgotten,” USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie said Feb. 14. Read more

Former assistant secretary of state Robert Destro discusses the need for religious freedom. Pictured from left,  Imam Talib Shareef of the Nation’s Mosque; Destro; and Cole Durham of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University Law School. Peter Pinedo/CNA

Religious freedom ‘under assault’ across the world, leaders testify at summit

Feb 2, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Faith leaders from across the world gathered in Washington, D.C., at the International Religious Freedom Summit this week. Read more

State officials walk past injured victims on hospital beds being treated for wounds following an attack by gunmen at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, southwest Nigeria, on June 5, 2022.

Human rights commission ‘outraged’ as State Department excludes Nigeria from watchlist

Dec 5, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

In Nigeria at least 60,000 Christians have been killed, many by their Muslim countrymen, over the past two decades. Read more

The episcopal consecration of Francis Cui Qingqi in Wuhan, China, Sept. 8, 2021.

U.S. religious freedom commission ‘tremendously disappointed’ with Vatican-China deal renewal

Oct 26, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says it is “tremendously disappointed” with the Vatican’s decision.  Read more

Displaced Nigerians camped near St. Francis Xavier Parish in Agagbe, Nigeria, in 2022.

Human rights activists call on US State Department to return Nigeria to religious freedom watchlist

Sep 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

Human rights advocates are calling on U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to put Nigeria back on a list of... Read more

Santa Cruz Chapel on Murdjajou mount in Oran, Algeria.

Religious freedom advocates warn that church closures are ‘wrong direction’ for Algeria

Jun 30, 2021

By ACI Africa

The closure of several Christian churches in Algeria, as well as court convictions of Christians for undermining Muslim beliefs, are... Read more

Legislators urge Biden to address global religious persecution

May 6, 2021

A bipartisan group of members of Congress asked President Biden this week to prioritize responding to global religious persecution. Read more

After China retaliates with sanctions, U.S. religious freedom advocates say they won’t be silenced

Mar 30, 2021

After China announced retaliatory sanctions against U.S. human rights advocates this weekend, advocates responded they would not be silent about... Read more

Uyghur women work in a cloth factory in Hotan county, Xinjiang province, China.

China blacklisting companies that have stopped sourcing from Xinjiang

Mar 26, 2021

U.S. companies must stand strong and ensure their supply chains in China are not tainted with forced labor, one human... Read more

Chinese flag.

China deemed a top religious freedom concern in 2021

Jan 13, 2021

By Matt Hadro

China remains a primary human rights concern in 2021, a federal religious freedom commissioner told CNA this week.  Read more

Mor Abrohom Church in Nusaybin, Turkey.

Religious scholar laments: Turkish Christians 'a welcome scapegoat'

Jun 25, 2020

According to a scholar of comparative religion, Christians in Turkey are being persecuted by the Turkish government, in part to... Read more

Turkish airforce fighter jet.

US religious freedom commission condemns Turkish airstrikes

Jun 22, 2020

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement on Friday, calling on the Turkish military to halt... Read more

Flag of India.

India denies visa to US religious freedom investigators

Jun 11, 2020

India has barred U.S. representatives from investigating the county’s reported violations of religious freedom, continuing what critics call a trend... Read more

The flag of Turkey.

Turkey disputes US religious freedom commission's assessment of Turkey

May 1, 2020

The Turkish foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected Turkey's inclusion in a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom,... Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian grotto in Pakistan.

US group calls Pakistan blocking of aid to Christians, Hindus 'reprehensible'

Apr 15, 2020

The U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom has called on the Pakistani government to ensure aid for the COVID-19 pandemic is... Read more

The White House, Washington, DC.

How a new presidential religious freedom adviser could shape US foreign policy

Feb 7, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Reports of a new special adviser to the President on international religious freedom could be a game-changer for U.S. foreign... Read more

Proposed changes to US Commission on International Religious Freedom draw fire

Nov 22, 2019

With the current authorization for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expiring this year, proposed changes to the... Read more

Hearing warns of increasing attacks on holy sites, houses of worship

Oct 24, 2019

The protection of holy sites and houses of worship was the subject of a recent hearing held by the U.S.... Read more