For many years, USCIRF has been deeply concerned about religious freedom conditions in Central Asia, and more recently the impact of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan on the surrounding region.

Since 2012, USCIRF has recommended that the State Department designate Tajikistan a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to the government’s increasing repression following the passage of a strict religion law in 2009. The State Department followed this recommendation in 2016 and has designated Tajikistan a CPC every year since.

USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst Jason Morton joins us to discuss religious freedom conditions in Tajikistan as well as how recent developments in neighboring Afghanistan potentially complicate these conditions. He also explores the danger of using security challenges to curb religious freedom.

Click here to view USCIRF’s hearing on religious regulation in Russia and Central Asia

Click here to read USCIRF’s report on the abuse of extremism and terrorism laws in Tajikistan