International Engagement Working Group
A meeting of the IARF International Engagement Working Group was held via Zoom on December 20, 2025. The meeting was attended by members Peter LePoole, Lukasz Liniewicz, Esther Suter, Ruzbeh Hodiwala, US Chapter Treasurer John Gubbings, and US Chapter President George Garland.
Among the many topics they explored was the restoration of IARF consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This restoration was necessary in order to have voting membership in the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (CoNGO), in association with the United Nations. IARF.net
USCIRF Welcomes Senator Schumer’s Appointment of Rachel Laser
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced the appointment of Rachel Laser to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom* (USCIRF) on December 11, 2025. Laser currently serves as President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. A lawyer and advocate, she has worked extensively on issues related to civil rights, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. She previously served as deputy director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and held senior roles at Third Way and the National Women’s Law Center.
THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ANNUAL REPORT 2026
MARCH 2026
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued their annual report for 2026. Established and funded by the US Congress, USCIRF is an independent federal agency with a staff of twenty-three professionals who monitor conditions of religious freedom around the globe. One of their tasks is to identify “Countries of Particular Concern” for violations of religious freedom.
For 2026, based on religious freedom conditions in 2025, USCIRF recommends that the U.S. Department of State: • redesignate as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) the following thirteen: Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan; and •designate as additional Commission on International CPCs the following five countries: Afghanistan, India, Libya, Syria, and Vietnam.
Issues of concern for these countries included: •weaponization of legal frameworks to restrict freedom of religious belief (Blasphemy Laws) •attacks based on religious Identity •attacks on and repression of religious leaders and •attacks on houses of worship.
Another task is to recommend countries for a Special Watch List. For 2026. the Special Watch List (SWL) includes the two countries: Algeria and Azerbaijan. The report recommends monitoring these nine countries: Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
Of note: concerns were raised in the report about the United States, including the impact of global funding cuts on religious freedom, appointment of key government officials promoting “religious freedom,” and delays for those seeking asylum over religious freedom.
To read/download the report, go to: www.uscirf.gov
From the USCIRF website:
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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.
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 732 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite A714 Washington, DC 20401 202–523–3240