Washington, D.C. — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 Annual Report, urging the U.S. government to maintain a strong stance against threats to freedom of religion worldwide. The bipartisan federal body, established under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), made sweeping recommendations to designate 16 countries as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) due to their “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.
The report highlights a diverse list of nations—including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Vietnam, North Korea, Myanmar, Iran, Nicaragua, China, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, and Russia—as facing severe challenges in upholding religious liberty. Additionally, USCIRF recommended that seven non-state entities be labeled as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC), citing organizations such as al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, the Islamic State Sahel Province, ISIS-West Africa, and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) as engaging in violent religious persecution.
Furthermore, the report places 12 countries—including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Türkiye—on the Special Watch List, signaling significant concerns regarding freedom of religion without imposing immediate sanctions.
Speaking at the report’s launch on Capitol Hill, USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck stressed the critical role of the U.S. in protecting religious freedom:
“As repressive governments and violent entities attack and drastically erode freedom of religion or belief, USCIRF’s independent reporting and bipartisan recommendations have never been more critical to U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. government must continue to stand firm against these threats against the universal right of religious freedom.”
USCIRF Vice Chair Meir Soloveichik echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that religious freedom remains a clear priority for the United States. “American support for religious freedom abroad remains a bedrock of bipartisan conviction—a common cause and indivisible commitment that inspires governments and facilitates burden-sharing in the advancement of freedom of religion or belief,” he stated.
The annual report, unveiled during an event in a Senate office building that saw participation from 10 current members of Congress, comes at a politically charged moment in the U.S. Despite previous designations remaining in place from 2023—due to the outgoing Biden administration not making new CPC designations—the 2025 recommendations signal a renewed urgency to confront global religious repression.
USCIRF’s comprehensive report not only outlines the current state of religious freedom worldwide but also reinforces the importance of the U.S. maintaining its leadership role in advocating for this fundamental right. As the State Department later integrates these recommendations into its policy framework, the Commission’s findings are expected to shape future U.S. foreign policy and contribute to a more vigorous international effort to protect religious liberty.
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