USCIRF Spotlight Podcast

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All Episodes

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

Findings from USCIRF’s Delegation to Central Asia

In June 2025, USCIRF commissioners traveled to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to assess religious freedom conditions. During the delegation, USCIRF confirmed that both governments continue to arbitrarily apply a broad and vague legislative framework to target peaceful religious activi ... Show more

. 18min 36sec

Egypt's Continued Repression of Religious Minorities

On this episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, Commissioner Stephen Schneck is joined by Mariam Wahba, an Egypt expert and Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Mariam has written extensively on the Egyptian government’s targeting of Egypt’s indigenous ... Show more

. 25min 41sec

Religious Prisoners and State Repression in Tajikistan

Since 2012, USCIRF has recommended Tajikistan for designation as a Country of Particular Concern for the government’s egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Among the particularly severe violations of religious freedom occurring in ... Show more

. 26min 21sec