Iran, 27 Other Countries Critiqued by Watchdog for Religious Freedom Violations
Adelle M. Banks reports that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has released its annual report on religious liberty violations, citing 28 nations including Iran. Nury Turkel, the chair of the USCIRF, said, “While religious freedom conditions in Iran were extremely poor even before protests began in September 2022, they have deteriorated considerably due to the government’s severe brutality against Iranians peacefully asserting their religious freedom.” The independent commission also urged the State Department to take stronger action against religious freedom violators and asked the government to extend legal protections to refugees fleeing religious persecution.