USCIRF Releases Report on Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses

USCIRF Releases Report on Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses

Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report:

Religious Freedom Challenges for Jehovah's Witnesses - Four years after USCIRF's 2020 publication on the global persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, countries continue to prosecute and impose harsh penalties on the community for their religious beliefs and peaceful religious activities. Hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned under laws punishing so-called "extremism" and conscientious objection. Other countries prevent Jehovah's Witnesses from gaining legal recognition, deprive them of rights afforded to others, or impose prejudicial policies. States have a duty to protect freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for Jehovah's Witnesses.

USCIRF has documented the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in its Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List and calls on the State Department to work with relevant governments and like-minded partners to secure their release.

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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. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].