USCIRF Spotlight Podcast

Release Date

All Episodes

Religious Freedom Under Threat: Enforced Disappearances in Malaysia

On November 5, 2025, the High Court ruled in favor of the family of missing Pastor Raymond Koh, finding the Malaysian government and police liable for his abduction and enforced disappearance in 2017. While the court’s decision brought comfort to Koh’s family, his whereabouts rem ... Show more

. 31min 23sec

A Conversation with a Legal Expert on Vietnam: FoRB in Focus

Vietnam’s government strictly regulates and controls religious affairs through state-approved religious organizations. Vietnamese authorities have frequently harassed, detained, arrested, and imprisoned members and advocates of unregistered religious communities that have sought ... Show more

. 30min 54sec

U.S. Policy Addressing China’s FoRB Abuses against Uyghurs

The Chinese government under Xi Jinping placed an estimated one million Uyghurs in concentration camps, subjecting them to forced labor and other horrific abuses. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also destroyed or modified mosques all as part of a “sinicization” policy to as ... Show more

. 30min 55sec

A Lifeline for Iran's Persecuted Religious Minorities

For decades, the Lautenberg-Specter program has provided a pathway for members of oppressed religious groups, including Christians, Jews, and Baha’is, with close family ties to the United States to escape persecution in Iran and the former Soviet states. By offering refuge to tho ... Show more

. 23min 43sec

Youth Voices Advancing Religious Freedom in East Africa

Youth play a crucial role in promoting religious freedom in Africa by advocating for greater religious literacy, inclusivity, and understanding. In East Africa, young people face challenges to religious freedom. The Youth Tolerance Committee (YTC), a non-governmental organization ... Show more

. 24min 49sec