US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a fact sheet on May 6 that highlights opportunities to expand targeted sanctions against those who violate religious freedom.
“There are many opportunities to expand the use of targeted sanctions, particularly in countries that are among the worst violators of religious freedom in the world,” the USCIRF document said.
In the fact sheet, USCIRF recommended the US federal government impose sanctions not only on entire countries, but also targeted sanctions against individuals and entities directly responsible for the violations.
It added, “While nationwide trade sanctions impose broad sanctions on countries to exert maximum pressure, this could lead to collateral damage on civilian populations.”
In contrast, targeted sanctions focus on individuals or entities responsible for abuses. “Depending on the program, these measures could include banning visas, freezing assets and freezing financial transactions.”
specific criminal
The document outlines some of the perpetrators who violate religious freedom abroad, which were detailed in USCIRF’s 2026 annual report published in March.
For example, in Afghanistan, USCIRF recommends sanctions against high-ranking Taliban officials at the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Evil, the body tasked with enforcing Sharia law.
Sanctions are recommended against those involved in Iraqi militias, such as the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as non-state actors and those associated with international authorities in Syria who violate religious freedom. It also lists state and non-state actors in Libya.
It recommends targeted sanctions against government agencies and officials in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Individuals from two sub-Saharan African countries are also implicated: Nigerian government and military officials who tolerate or participate in attacks on religious communities and Eritrean government officials, including those in the police, judiciary, and corrections system.
The fact sheet recommends targeted sanctions against Chinese government agencies, entities and officials. It also suggests sanctions against intelligence officials in neighboring India and individuals and entities such as the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Two Latin American countries are included. It recommends sanctions against Nicaraguan officials who participate in or tolerate the targeting of religious communities. It encourages sanctions against Cuban officials, including Caridad Diego Bello, head of the Office of Religious Affairs.
Russia is the only European country listed. It suggests sanctions against officials and state agencies, including the Federal Security Service, which is an intelligence agency.
Approval methods
The document states that a number of policies can be used to implement targeted sanctions related to human rights abuses.
The policies allow economic sanctions and visa bans against any foreign individual or entity involved in “extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” and “serious human rights abuses.”
Other policies allow visa restrictions on individuals and – when appropriate – immediate family members for participating in violations of religious freedom or gross violations of human rights.
“The primary goal of these programs is to change the behavior of criminals by altering their cost-benefit calculations, reducing their sense of impunity, and reducing public naming and shaming,” the document reads.
“These measures signal international expectations, restrict access to resources essential to continuing violations, and demonstrate solidarity with victims and survivors,” it said. “Generally, visa restrictions are legally required to be issued confidentially, which may mitigate some of the effects from ‘naming and shaming’ and reduce transparency.”
