United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Releases 2025 Annual Report Highlighting Concerns on Religious Freedom Worldwide

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Releases 2025 Annual Report Highlighting Concerns on Religious Freedom Worldwide

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 annual report, raising serious concerns about religious freedom around the world. The report identifies 16 countries, including China, Iran, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia, where the situation regarding religious freedom is critically poor, and these countries have been accused of violating religious freedoms. The data used in this report is based on information collected during the administration of former President Biden in 2024.

China – In 2024, the situation of religious freedom in China remained one of the worst in the world. The leadership of the Communist Party of China (CCP) under Xi Jinping continued efforts to update and implement its “Sinicization of Religion” policy, which demands full loyalty and unwavering adherence to the CCP, its political ideology, and policies from recognized religious groups. Amendments to religious regulations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in February further strengthened the Sinicization policy and imposed strict restrictions. In March, the CCP Secretary of Xinjiang, Ma Xingrui, described the Sinicization of Islam in the province as an “inevitable trend.”

India – In 2024, the religious freedom situation in India continued to deteriorate, especially with increased attacks on Muslims and other religious minorities. In 2023, USCIRF highlighted the involvement of Indian intelligence officers in the attempted murder of an American Sikh citizen in New York. As a result, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. government impose sanctions on organizations like India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for serious violations of religious freedom.

Iran – In 2024, the situation of religious freedom in Iran remained dire, particularly for religious minorities, religious protestors, and women and girls. Authorities continue to physically torture and impose harsh punishments on prisoners detained for religious reasons, including denying them medical care. The government has also targeted religious minorities.

Russia – In 2024, the religious freedom situation in Russia worsened, with Muslim minorities in Russian-occupied Crimea facing terrorism charges and being labeled as members of Hizb ut-Tahrir. 352 prisoners are serving sentences for religious freedom violations, and most of them are serving sentences of over 15 years.

Saudi Arabia – Despite some improvements, the religious freedom situation in Saudi Arabia remains poor. Discrimination against Shia Muslims continues, and 12 members of the al-Safa football club, who performed Shia religious songs, were detained. Additionally, Saudi authorities executed more than 200 death sentences, many of which were of Shia Muslims who were executed for protesting religious discrimination.

The report also mentions severe violations of religious freedom in countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Cuba, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. In these countries, governments have continued to perpetrate abuse, oppression, and discrimination against religious minorities.