The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 report, naming the countries it considers the worst offenders when it comes to religious freedom.
The report highlights that, unfortunately, the situation in many of the countries it has flagged in past reports has not improved—in fact, in some places, it's got worse.
It recommends that twelve countries, including Burma, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea, remain on the list of "countries of particular concern" (CPCs) because of their ongoing violations of religious freedom. It also suggests adding Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Vietnam to the CPC list due to the growing repression of religious groups in these countries.
Stephen Schneck, chair of USCIRF, told Religion News Service that the worsening conditions are largely the result of authoritarian governments and rising religious nationalism, which have made it more difficult for people to practise their faith or hold differing beliefs.
Schneck also voiced concern about the lack of progress on religious freedom actions within the U.S. government. Although the Biden administration has funded aid to groups facing persecution—like the Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh and Christians in Syria—there’s been little movement on lifting the freeze on USAID programs that support religious freedom globally. He suggested that these freezes, which were introduced during the Trump administration, have hindered vital efforts to protect religious freedoms in different parts of the world.
The report also urges the Trump administration to quickly appoint a new ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom to keep pushing the U.S.’s commitment to religious freedom as a core part of its foreign policy.
The commission also called for the reauthorisation of the Lautenberg Amendment, which helps resettle religious minorities from Iran and former Soviet Union countries, and stressed the importance of offering support to refugees fleeing religious persecution.
Despite the bleak picture, USCIRF highlighted the resilience of many people who continue to stand up for their faith, even in the face of rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious hostility. However, Schneck warned that the global situation for religious freedom is still declining, with many countries moving further away from respecting basic human rights.
