USCIRF News Digest

        Source:                www.uscirf.gov
Date:                     February 4, 2020

USCIRF News Digest - February 4, 2020

Upcoming Events

 Feb. 11 - OSCE Report Briefing (RSVP by Feb. 7)
 March 4 - USCIRF Hearing
 April 28 – USCIRF Annual Report Release

USCIRF News

 James W. Carr Appointed to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Download the 2019 USCIRF Annual Report: Key Findings and Recommendations

Top News from Around the World

 Azerbaijan
 Muslim unity declared pressure on its members (Turan)

 China
 Underground Catholics ignore China's religion rules amid dangers (UCA)
 Uyghurs in Saudi Arabia Flee to Turkey As Chinese Embassy Ends Passport Renewals (RFA)

 Egypt
 Egypt celebrates its Jewish heritage (Watani)
 Pretrial detention of Egyptian activist Ramy Kamil was extended 15 days (@maitelsadany)

 Indonesia
 Bali: Indonesian President Joko Widodo sets up the country’s first Hindu State University
 (Opindia)

 Iraq
 Iraq's Assyrians Flee in the Face of Lawlessness and Sectarianism (AINA / Telegraph)

 Iran
 Resolution on Baha’i Oppression Returns to US Congress (Iran Wire)
 Iranian Christians granted early release from prison (Article 18)

 Malaysia
 The Growing Islamism in Malayisa (The Diplomat)
 Malaysian pastor missing three years after abduction (UCA News)

 Syria
 ISIS in Syria May Face Local Tribunal (ICC)

 Turkey
 Armenian population of Turkey dwindling rapidly: Patriarch (Hürriyet Daily News)
 Syriac couple in Şırnak missing for 24 days (Bianet)
 The perils of mixing religion and politics: the case of Turkey (Open Democracy)

 Ukraine
 One-third of Ukrainians say they belong to church independent of Moscow (RFE/RL)

 Uzbekistan
 Uzbekistan says Pompeo recognizes country’s ‘significant progress’ (RFE/RL)
 “I plan to discuss China’s repression of Uighur Muslims in my private meetings here” – Michael Pompeo (Kun.uz)
 Michael Pompeo: Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s ambitious reform agenda is yielding significant progress (Kun.uz)
 Distorted ideas of foreign partners on freedom of faith in Uzbekistan causes indignation of ISRS (Kun.uz)
 Reporters Notebook: Inside a prison in Uzbekistan (Voice of America)