USCIRF

ICYMI: Watch USCIRF's 2026 Annual Report Release uscirf.gov/events/2026-an…

Cmmr @rachelklaser: “@SecRubio should designate North Korea as Country of Particular Concern and fill the role of Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues as a full-time position at the @StateDept.” uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Chair Hartzler: “North Korean counter-intelligence agencies treat religious activity as an ‘anti-state crime.’ Their constitution ‘guarantees’ freedom of religion, but FoRB victims who have escaped report cases of torture, forced labor, imprisonment, and execution.”

Cmmr @melsanousi1: “The USG must again designate Nigeria as a CPC and enter into a binding agreement with the Nigerian gov't to take substantial steps to address violations of FoRB, including safely returning displaced persons to their homes.” uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Chair Hartzler: “In 2025, Nigeria failed to adequately respond to rising FoRB violations, esp. for Christians in the Middle Belt. Villages, schools, churches, & mosques have been attacked and burned to the ground by EPCs & others. 3.5 million live in IDP camps. Nigeria must act!”

Cmmr @StephenSchneck: “@SecRubio should designate Nicaragua as a CPC, impose financial sanctions on religious freedom violating officials, and fund foreign assistance programs for Nicaraguan NGOs documenting FoRB violations to support accountability.” uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Cmmr Ferguson: “The Nicaraguan gov’t wages an all-out assault against religious freedom as part of its comprehensive crackdown on dissent against Catholics and Protestants. Pastors, priests, and parishioners face arbitrary arrest, exile, & property seizure.”

Cmmr @melsanousi1: “The USG should place Malaysia on its Special Watch List and urge the Malaysian gov’t to ratify core international human rights treaties that impact religious freedom, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Chair Hartzler: “Malaysia's gov’t discriminates against Muslim groups it views as ‘deviant,’ targeting members with bans, raids, & arrests. At the state level, authorities prosecuted blasphemy cases against those they deemed to ‘insult’ Islam.”

STARTING SOON: Hearing on the Endangerment of Jews: The Rise of Antisemitism Abroad Wednesday, March 18, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET uscirf.gov/events/hearing…

Vice Chair @DrMahmood40: “The USG should designate Libya as CPC & condition any extension of emergency funds to the GNU on demonstrable improvements in FoRB conditions, including safeguarding religious minorities & reining in the ISA’s religiously repressive activities.”

Chair Hartzler: “Libya’s political fragmentation imperils FoRB, as the Government of National Unity (GNU) detains and prosecutes suspected apostates from Islam and proselytizers for Christianity while militias often abuse and kidnap religious minorities.” uscirf.gov/resources/liby…

Vice Chair @DrMahmood40: "The @StateDept should include Kyrgyzstan on the SWL for engaging in severe FoRB violations and encourage the Kyrgyz government to adhere to international standards when implementing the new legal framework regulating religion." uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Chair Hartzler: "In 2025, significant legal changes eroded FoRB in Kyrgyzstan, impacting independent Christians & Muslims, as well as 'non-traditional' groups. Authorities penalized peaceful religious activities w/ fines, prison, forced renunciations of faith, & physical abuse."

Cmmr @rachelklaser: "The USG should include Kazakhstan on its SWL for its ongoing and systematic FoRB violations. Congress should condition Kazakhstan’s eligibility for Permanent Normal Trade Relations status on the removal of FoRB restrictions per the Jackson-Vanik amendment."

Cmmr Ferguson: "Kazakhstan’s poor religious freedom conditions stem from the arbitrary enforcement of a vague legal framework regulating religion. Individuals have been imprisoned, beaten, and had their lives threatened by officials denying them FoRB." uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Cmmr Ferguson: “The @StateDept should place Iraq on the Special Watch List for severe violations of FoRB and Congress should hold hearings on systematic threats to religious freedom in Iraq, including at the federal and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) levels.”

Cmmr @StephenSchneck: “In 2025, the Iraqi government imposed more restrictions on religious freedom, such as changes to personal status laws, while failing to curb the abuses of the state-affiliated militia network of the Popular Mobilization Forces.” uscirf.gov/annual-reports…

Vice Chair @DrMahmood40: “Iran's est. 1,900 executions in 2025, about half religiously based, emphasizes the need for @SecRubio to designate Iran as a CPC & Congress to reauthorize the Lautenberg Amendment that protects vulnerable religious minorities." uscirf.gov/annual-reports

Chair Hartzler: "Iran persecuted Christians, Baha'is, & Sunni Muslims by surveilling, arresting, torturing, & killing them. This includes torturing Christians in prison, violent home raids targeting Baha'i women, & executing at least 5 Sunni Muslims for their religious identity.”

Register for the upcoming Hearing on the Endangerment of Jews: The Rise of Antisemitism Abroad. Wednesday, March 18, 2026 10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET Virtual uscirf.gov/events/hearing…