Welcome to a new weekly podcast series called “USCIRF Spotlight” hosted by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body. During each episode, Director of Outreach and Policy Dwight Bashir features a special guest to dive deeper on various topics and breaking developments that impact the universal right to freedom of religion or belief around the globe.
Released But Not Free: State Restrictions on FoRB Targeting Released Religious Prisoners of Conscience
Individuals imprisoned for their religion or belief continue to face state repression even upon their release. For example, in Saudi Arabia, China, and Egypt, many released prisoners face bans on leaving the country, preventing them from visiting family, speaking freely about their experiences, or finding work or residency in other countries. Such bans often have little oversight, transparency, or opportunity for appeal. In Vietnam, individuals are pressured not to speak to media or post on social media. In Nicaragua they are deported from the country as a condition for their release. Individuals in Iran may be forbidden from joining social groups or civil society organizations or face restrictions on their religious activities. They also may be sent into internal exile, miles away from their family and friends.
In this episode, Chair Vicky Hartzler speaks with Freedom House President Gerardo Berthin about individuals who continue to face restrictions on their religious freedom even after leaving prison. The episode highlights USCIRF-recommended CPC and SWL countries where such practices are in place and discusses policy recommendations for Congress and the administration to hold accountable governments engaged in these restrictions.
6 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Holding Burma's Military Accountable for Atrocities Against Religious Minorities
Despite sanctions and repeated condemnation against the Burmese military, the ruling junta continues to unleash brutal attacks against its own people, including religious minorities such as Muslim-majority Rohingya and Christian-majority Chin, Kachin, and Karen communities. Several global efforts to hold the Burmese military accountable through a variety of international legal mechanisms are now underway.
On this episode of the USCIRF Spotlight podcast, Commissioner Stephen Schneck speaks with Tom Andrews, former Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, as well as Arsalan Suleman, a partner at Foley Hoag’s International Litigation and Arbitration Practice. They focus their discussion on the ongoing case in the International Court of Justice which prosecutes the Burmese government’s role in the Rohingya genocide.
5 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Universal Jurisdiction as a Tool for Accountability in Burma
Commissioner Stephen Schneck interviews Tun Khin and Salai Za Uk Ling about using universal jurisdiction to hold Burma's military accountable for atrocities.
Inside a recent episode
Released But Not Free: State Restrictions on FoRB Targeting Released Religious Prisoners of Conscience
Published 8 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I was just wondering of all the countries you look at in all these cases, what are the three most common tools that you see being used against former prisoners of religion and belief? Yes. So I think behind these practices is of course the tactic to control the former political prisoner because somehow the regime feels she or they are still a threat. And even after they live the prison. But certainly I will say in the most common cases travel bands in the most extreme cases as you alluded in your introduction forced exile and also control over property or family relatives within the country. And certainly this happens because there's a balance between the release of the political prisoners and the regime is part of the conditions probably that most regimes often include as part of political prisoners conditional release. […]
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