Standing with the Silenced – Leveraging the Frank Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 

Standing with the Silenced – Leveraging the Frank Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List

Thursday, February 6, 2025
1:30-3:00 pm ET
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 

Register Here

In far too many places around the world officials silence individuals through unjust detention, forced renunciations, and even torture simply due to the victim’s religion or belief. Join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and help break that silence with an in-person event that will spotlight selected persecuted individuals and communities. 

USCIRF is mandated by the U.S. Congress, through the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended (IRFA), to maintain a list of victims. The Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List currently has more than 2,300 individuals. 

Speakers include both former prisoners of conscience and those who advocate for them. They will reflect on their experiences as victims denied religious freedom and highlight the role advocacy can play in supporting victims and survivors. They will also discuss ways to elevate religious freedom as a higher priority in U.S. foreign policy and strengthen the United States’ advocacy on behalf of individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of their religion or belief.  

Opening Remarks 

• Stephen Schneck, Chair, USCIRF 

Congressional Remarks 

• Various members invited

Remarks from Former Religious Prisoners of Conscience 
Introductory Remarks from Commissioner Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF 

• Bob Fu - China 

• Liza Khalil - Ukraine 

• Kola Alapinni - Nigeria, Legal Representative of Mubarak Bala 

• Mashal Naseem - Pakistan, daughter of Tahir Ahmad Naseem 

• Maung Sawyeddollah - Burma 

• Keyvan Ghareri - Yemen 

• Negede Teklemariam - Eritrea 

Panel 
Moderated by Commissioner Maureen Ferguson, USCIRF

• Former Ambassador-at-Large Rashad Hussain, Office of International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State, Invited 

• David Smith MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for FoRB, United Kingdom, Invited 

  This event is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..