USCIRF Releases 2026 Annual Report: Exposes Egregious Religious Freedom Abuses From Key Nations

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom documents conditions in 2025 and calls on the President, Secretary of State, and Congress to act — as persecution, mob violence, and state repression intensify across the globe.

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Washington, DC — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released its 2026 Annual Report, a comprehensive accounting of religious freedom conditions throughout 2025. The report sets forth U.S. policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the U.S. Congress aimed at advancing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad.

“China arrests underground church members, mob violence is on the rise in India and Pakistan leading to attacks on religious minorities and the destruction of their homes, Burma’s military bombs houses of worship, and Tajikistan denies parents the right to teach their children about faith.”

— Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF Chair

“As USCIRF’s Annual Report shows, far too many people in key nations are denied religious freedom through unjust laws, discrimination, harassment, violence, and even crimes against humanity,” Chair Hartzler continued. “The U.S. government must continue to advance religious freedom abroad to make a difference for those facing religious persecution.”

Congress mandated USCIRF’s Annual Report in the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. Beyond policy recommendations, the report includes a summary of the implementation of IRFA, other global developments, and a formal evaluation of entities that violate FoRB.

“Religious freedom is a universal human right for all. Reporting on religious freedom conditions abroad is more imperative than ever. Government repression and non-state actor violence are on the rise in many places around the world; often devastating targeted religious communities and taking innocent lives.”

— Asif Mahmood, USCIRF Vice Chair

Vice Chair Mahmood urged the State Department to issue its own Annual Report on International Religious Freedom and make its designations for countries and entities that violate this fundamental freedom, calling it essential to keeping religious liberty “at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy.”

2026 Report — Key Recommendations

Countries of Particular Concern CPC Eighteen countries recommended to the Secretary of State for designation for particularly severe FoRB violations under IRFA.

Special Watch List SWL Eleven countries recommended for Special Watch List designation for severe FoRB violations under IRFA.

Entities of Particular Concern EPC Seven non-state entities recommended for EPC designation based on documented religious freedom abuses.

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Broad Policy Recommendations Comprehensive recommendations directed to the U.S. Administration and Congress to strengthen the U.S. response to global religious persecution.

The full annual report is publicly accessible at uscirf.gov. USCIRF Commissioners are available for press interviews. Media inquiries may be directed to media@uscirf.gov.

Original Source uscirf.gov — USCIRF Releases 2026 Annual Report

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About USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. Learn more at uscirf.gov.