The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent federal advisory body created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Its purpose is to monitor and analyze the state of religious freedom around the world, but not in the USA. On April 30 the commission released its 2013 Annual Report. This document is widely read and commented on by those who are interested in religious freedom. 

I would like to first congratulate the commission on the work they do every year to research and publish this report. It annually attracts the attention of the media and of governments to the subject of religious freedom. Countries which persecute, or allow persecution, of believers should not be ignored.  What they are doing is wrong, and it is important for them to know that the world knows what they are doing.  According to the report, “The state of international religious freedom is increasingly dire due to the presence of forces that fuel instability.” 

It is difficult today to list countries where religious freedom improved in 2012. Those who hoped things would change for the better in North Africa and the Middle East following the Arab Spring have reasons to be disappointed.  For instance, the Coptic Christians in Egypt are no more protected now than they were before. 

The Commission recommends to the United States Secretary of State that eight nations be classified as “Countries of particular concern” or CPC. We may discuss whether eight is the right number or if different countries should have been included.  

As someone who travels around the world, I would make a distinction between China and North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, and Iran.  There are many temples and churches in China. We can visit them and meet religious leaders.  It is true that we need special authorization to speak in public in China, as we do in several other countries; but there is no comparison between China and Turkmenistan. It is true that some minorities are strongly persecuted in China, but religions have more presence and are more active in China than in several other countries not recommended for classification as CPC. This is not a critique about the list, but just a comment.   

The report also shows that religious persecution does not spare any religion. Coptic Christians and other Christians are discriminated against and persecuted in several predominantly Muslim countries, but Muslims are persecuted in Myanmar.  Sunni Muslims are persecuted in Iran like the Bahá'í, and the Shiite Muslims are persecuted in Pakistan like the Ahmadiyya Muslims. Muslims and some new religious movements have their freedom restricted and are sometimes discriminated against in Western Europe. Of course, we could also say that non-religious people and Atheists are discriminated against in some parts of the world. In fact, respecting religious freedom for all would contribute greatly to the cause of justice and peace in the world. 

Laws on Blasphemy and Apostasy should be strongly opposed as one of the priorities of the United States.  The defender of freedom and human rights should ask that religious minorities be protected from violent mobs and that a fair investigation should take place before someone is arrested, so they are not kept in prison for years based on rumors alone.

Thanks again to the Commission for their work and for the opportunity they offer to take a close look at the state of religious freedom in the world today.  Thanks for not keeping silent when innocent people are treated like criminals just because they have a different religion or no religion at all. 

 --Dr. John Graz, Secretary General, International Religious Liberty Association