“The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)’s 2026 Annual Report is a sobering reminder that millions of people around the world still face imprisonment, violence, and discrimination simply because of their faith,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—a longtime defender of religious liberty—upon the release of USCIRF’s 21^st Annual Report, led by USCIRF Chairwoman Vicky Hartzler.

             The report evaluates the religious freedom conditions in dozens of countries and makes recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress under the International Religious Freedom Act (PL 105-292), of which Smith was an original cosponsor.

             “Global threats to religious freedom are only growing, as evidenced by the additions of Libya and Syra to the CPC recommendation list,” continued Smith, the prime author of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (PL 114-281), which enhances and expands the United States’ actions to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts.

             “In light of these unfortunate developments, the United States must use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to fervently defend the fundamental right of religious freedom,” noted Smith.

             Smith noted that the report highlights the sustained and systemic religious freedom violations occurring in countries such as China, Cuba, Iran, Nigeria, Nicaragua, and North Korea—places where governments continue to perpetrate or tolerate the persecution and repression of religious communities and minorities.

             The report also recommends that two countries—Libya and Syria—be newly added to the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a designation reserved for governments responsible for “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom. It also advises placing Qatar on the Special Watch List (SWL) for severe violations that fall short of the CPC threshold.

             To intensify congressional oversight of these abuses, Smith has chaired more than 30 hearings across three congressional committees, where he serves as Co-/Chairman—the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC)—all focused on examining and condemning trends of religious persecution, both region-based and globally.

             Recently, on March 5^th, Smith chaired a TLHRC hearing entitled, “U.S. Presidency of the G20–An Opportunity to Champion Human Rights,” which assessed how the Trump administration can use the U.S. Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) forum to advance human rights, with a particular emphasis on religious freedom and freedom of speech.

             While delivering his opening remarks at the hearing, Smith said, “One of the most pressing crises today is the denial of freedom of religion—of the right to live as people of faith, free from fear and persecution. According to Open Doors, approximately 25,000 Christians have been killed for their faith—globally—in the past five years. Most of them were killed in situations of some connivance or complicity on the part of governments…

             “It would be a missed opportunity for the G20 to meet in the U.S. and this issue not to be raised. The G20 is the leading—and perhaps, only effective—international forum for cooperation among leading powers that are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu, at a time when broad civilizational tensions between them seem to be tragically increasing.”

             In addition to chairing congressional hearings that call attention to grave religious freedom violations, Smith has authored and introduced legislation to strengthen the United States’ responses to countries whose governments are complicit in or complacent about the religious persecution occurring within their borders.

             Smith recently introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457) to combat the widespread religious violence perpetrated against Christians and non-radical Muslims in Nigeria. The bill would require the U.S. Secretary of State to compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on U.S. efforts to address the ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities there.

             Moreover, Smith is the author of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 1744), pending legislation to reauthorize the USCIRF board and strengthen its ability to monitor and expose religious freedom abuses.

             “For decades, Congress has made it clear that religious freedom is a core American value and a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy,” Smith stated. “Through informative hearings, comprehensive legislation, and incisive oversight, we will continue to press for enhanced accountability and stronger actions against regimes that imprison, torture, or kill citizens because of their beliefs.”

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