USCIRF (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
- Religious Freedom Violations Go WestAnnual watchdog report expands to Latin America, continues to cite China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia among 28 nations restricting minority faiths.Jayson Casper|
- US Branch Splits from Open Doors InternationalOpen Doors USA is now Global Christian Relief, but there is little indication of what led to the break.Emily Belz|
- US Commission ‘Outraged’ By Omitted Offenders of Religious FreedomUSCIRF protests Nigeria and India not being included among nations added to State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern.Jayson Casper|
- Will US List Nigeria Again After Latest Religious Freedom Report?Secretary Blinken warns Nigeria, Afghanistan, and other nations with unchecked violations, while USCIRF recommends additional countries of particular concern.Jayson Casper|
- Nigeria Removed, Russia Added to US State Department’s Religious Persecution ListUSCIRF “appalled” at “unexplainable” Nigeria decision, “welcomes” Russia and Taliban inclusion, and wishes India, Syria, and Vietnam were also named and shamed.Religion News Service and CT|
- Biden Names First Muslim Religious Freedom Ambassador(UPDATED) 12 Christian IRF advocates praise Rashad Hussain, Obama’s OIC envoy, for his credentials and credibility. Two USCIRF commissioners and antisemitism envoy also named.Jeremy Weber and Religion News Service|
- First Denomination to Condemn Uyghur Muslim Genocide? Southern BaptistsSuch statements that bridge faiths are rare, based on my two decades working on religious freedom. Christians need to make more.Knox Thames|
- China Sanctions Evangelical Leader Who Called Out Religious Freedom ViolationsJohnnie Moore, an outgoing USCIRF commissioner, spoke up to ask governments to stop ignoring Chinese treatment of Uyghur Muslims, Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists.Kate Shellnutt|
- 3 Fewer Hot Spots for Trump-Biden Handover on Religious FreedomUSCIRF chair Gayle Manchin explains why 22nd annual report by US watchdog agency reduces tally of offending nations, yet too many on black list still “don’t seem to care.”Jayson Casper|
- If Muslims Can Build Churches in Egypt, Has Persecution Ended?With a Christian activist in jail and a grandmother humiliated, religious freedom advocates weigh the value of progress in church legalization and public rhetoric.Jayson Casper|
