IRF Secretariat

Great to see former colleagues on the Hill and discuss our shared commitment to protecting religious freedom for persecuted faith communities around the world at the @IRFSummit breakfast and @IRFSecretariat IRF Roundtable yesterday.

The Roundtable is the building block of Cooperative Engagement youtube.com/shorts/GpNkLQv… via @YouTube

As 2025 draws to a close, IRF Secretariat looks back on a year defined by unprecedented growth and the tangible expansion of our global movement. Our mission is to enhance advocacy efforts with cooperative engagement and a “builders approach...” irfsecretariat.org/news/irf-secre…

🚨CASE UPDATE: On Sept. 25th, the Supreme Court of Nigeria will hold a hearing in the appeal of Yahaya-Sharif Aminu, a young musician previously sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy. 👇Read more:

Tomorrow’s verdict in the #KızÇocuklarıDavası is a test of justice. 41 individuals—incl. minors—face terror charges in #Turkey for praying, fasting & living in student housing. One int’l observer noted: “In a so-called terrorism case, the judge asked nothing about terrorism—only about studying & praying together.” @NachoSAmor @nadinemaenza @RepGusBilirakis @RepMcGovern @TLHumanRights @silencedturkey See the urgent appeal, endorsed by 79 organizations and 321 individuals👇🏼 canva.com/design/DAGzPL6…

.@RepGusBilirakis raised Turkey’s human rights and religious freedom violations on the House floor—targeting minority faith groups and members of the Hizmet Movement. He especially highlighted the unjust trial of young girls, which will have its final sentencing on Sept. 18-19, 2025. 41 women and girls—students, teachers, even teens—face 6 to 15 years in prison for peaceful acts of faith. Meanwhile, @IrfSecretariat circulated a multi-faith letter with 400 signatures to @SecRubio and @USCIRF urging for their acquittal. 📄 canva.com/design/DAGzPL6… Thank you @RepGusBilirakis & @IrfSecretariat for your support and for raising this issue. #GirlsTrial #Turkey #KızÇocuklarıDavası #Türkiye #FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights @StateDept @StateIRF @washingtonpost @nytimes @LantosFndn @silencedturkey @OthersInfo @TLHumanRights

📢 On the latest episode of USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, USCIRF Commissioner @melsanousi1 spoke with Massimo @Introvigne, Editor-In-Chief of @BitterWinterMag, to discuss Article 300 and its impacts on religious freedom in China. uscirf.gov/news-room/usci…

🗓 Sept. 18–19: The world must not look away. #GirlsTrial #Turkey #KızÇocuklarıDavası #Türkiye #FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights @washingtonpost @nytimes @LantosFndn @silencedturkey @OthersInfo @rumiforum

A total of 400 signatories (79 orgs + 321 individuals) have endorsed a multi-faith appeal urging @StateDept @SecRubio @StateIRF @USCIRF to: ✅ Demand full acquittal ✅ Condemn misuse of anti-terror laws ✅ Ensure international monitoring

🚨 Tomorrow in Istanbul: 41 women & girls—some just teens—face 6–15 yrs in prison for peaceful acts of faith. 400 signatories call for immediate acquittal & international monitoring. The world must not look away. #GirlsTrial #FaithUnchained #Turkey 📄 canva.com/design/DAGzPL6…

In revisiting communications, in May I joined @UN_SPExperts in condemning the conviction of 5 Jehovah’s Witnesses in #Algeria. Their arrests and convictions raised #ICCPR Arts. 18 & 19 - freedoms of religion/belief #FoRB and expression, & other concerns. spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/…

5 years ago, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria for a private WhatsApp message expressing his religious views. He had no legal representation. @FelaLives stepped in to challenge this grave injustice. Now, the case heads to Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Sept 25. More here: adfinternational.org/cases/yahaya

This morning, CFU attended the @IrfSecretariat Roundtable to hear updates from faith leaders around the world on their efforts to confront persecution and defend freedom of religion.

@IrfSecretariat Thank you, @IrfSecretariat for your steadfast support in monitoring the “Girls’ Trial” in Turkey. Special thanks to @rebecca_cataldi and @AndreaJilBarron for your presence and advocacy for these 41 women facing unjust charges. Your supports are truly invaluable. #ReligiousFreedom

🚨 A new resolution from @RepRileyMoore and @HawleyMO has condemned the widespread persecution of Christians in countries around the world. We proudly endorse this resolution and its call to strengthen protections for religious freedom internationally. Read more here 👇

@sevincozarslan Thank you for sharing about this case!

Washington DC merkezli "Uluslararası Dini Özgürlük Yuvarlak Masası", yarın görülecek Kız Çocukları Davası için ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Marco Rubio ve Vicky Hartzler’e hitaben mektup yazdı. Çok sayıda, aydın, entelektüel ve sivil toplum kuruluşundan 365 kişinin imzasının yer aldığı mektupta kız çocuklarına özgürlük talep edildi. #KHKÇözümlüBarış

@sevincozarslan2 Thank you for sharing about this case!

ÖNEMLİ Washington merkezli Uluslararası Dini Özgürlük Masası-IRF Secretariat, yarın görülecek Kız Çocukları Davası için ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Marco Rubio ve Vicky Hartzler’e hitaben mektup yazdı. 365 kişinin imzasının yer aldığı mektupta kız çocuklarına özgürlük talep edildi.

@kgulen2024 Thank you for sharing!

These girls are innocent. Please be their voice, it means being the voice of justice.

Full Update on the “Girls’ Trial” in Turkey – July 18, 2025: Today’s hearing was expected to conclude with a final verdict, but was derailed when the presiding judge abruptly withdrew. A substitute and external judge were hastily appointed, prompting strong objections from defense attorneys over serious procedural violations. Most lawyers refused to present final defenses under these conditions, and many defendants followed suit. Meanwhile, the prosecutor repeatedly left and re-entered the courtroom—violating protocol and further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings. These 41 women—on trial for peaceful religious acts like Qur’an study, prayer, and hosting faith gatherings—must now wait until Sept 18–19 for a possible verdict. We’re especially grateful to @rebecca_cataldi (@ICRD_NGO) and @AndreaJilBarron (@TASSCintl) for attending the hearing in Istanbul to monitor the trial and stand in solidarity. Nearly 400 faith leaders, NGOs, and scholars have signed a multi-faith letter calling for full acquittal, condemnation of Turkey’s misuse of anti-terror laws, and international monitoring. Global attention and sustained pressure are more vital than ever. 🔗 irfroundtable.org/advocacy/trial… We urge @StateDept @SenRubioPress @StateIRF @USCIRF to stay engaged and continue to speak out. #FoRB #FaithUnchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #GirlsTrial #Turkey #Türkiye #KızÇocuklarıDavası @LantosFndn @ADFIntl @articleeighteen @RFInstitute @washingtonpost @nytimes

🚨 UPDATE: Today’s “Girls’ Trial” hearing in Turkey took a shocking turn. Final verdict delayed. Judges swapped. Procedural chaos. Details in the thread ⬇️

🚨 To the attention of the international community:   TOMORROW, 41 women & girls in Turkey—students, teachers, mothers—face sentencing of up to 15 years for peaceful religious activity. Their “crimes”?
📖 Qur’an study
🕌 Group prayer
🤝 Hosting faith-based gatherings This is not justice—it’s persecution. We urge the complete acquittal of all 41 women and girls on trial in Istanbul, Turkey, whose peaceful religious practices have been wrongfully criminalized.   Nearly 400+ faith leaders, NGOs & academics have signed a multi-faith letter calling on @StateDept @SecRubio @StateIRF @USCIRF to:
✅ Urge full acquittal
✅ Condemn misuse of anti-terror laws
✅ Support international monitoring 📄 Read & share the letter:
🔗 irfroundtable.org/advocacy/trial… 🗓️ The world must not stay silent on July 18. #FoRB #FaithUchained #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #GirlsTrial #Turkey #Türkiye
@LantosFndn @ADFIntl @articleeighteen @RFInstitute @washingtonpost @nytimes