U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends redesignating Saudi Arabia as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC)
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended redesignating Saudi Arabia as a “Country of Particular Concern” in its 2026 annual report, citing ongoing, systematic, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
According to the report, conditions for religious freedom in Saudi Arabia remained poor in 2025, with continued punishments against individuals who deviate from the state’s interpretation of Islam, restrictions on non-Muslim worship, and the criminalization of blasphemy.
The report noted that judges issued and carried out approximately 355 death sentences during the year, including against individuals—particularly Shi’a Muslims—linked to protests over religious discrimination, some of whom were accused of acts committed while they were minors.
It also highlighted the continued imposition of harsh penalties on individuals expressing dissenting views, including lengthy prison sentences, travel bans, and reports of ill-treatment in detention, alongside denial of adequate medical care for some prisoners.
The report further documented poor detention conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement and restrictions on family contact, as well as cases of abuse affecting detainees’ physical and psychological well-being.
It also addressed the continued detention of individuals over social media activity, with courts issuing sentences after lengthy legal proceedings, including imprisonment and travel bans.
Additionally, the report referred to the detention of women and girls in so-called “care home” facilities, where some have reportedly been subjected to physical abuse and mistreatment, including whipping and denial of proper medical care.
In the context of transnational repression, the report documented cases of individuals being forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia and detained, as well as punitive measures taken against family members of dissidents abroad.
Regarding legal practices, the report pointed to the continued use of laws such as the cybercrime and counterterrorism laws to prosecute individuals for peaceful expression, along with concerns about lack of transparency and consistency in judicial procedures.
The Commission concluded that these patterns reflect ongoing systemic violations and called for reassessing Saudi Arabia’s status within the framework of international religious freedom monitoring.
