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USCIRF Welcomes New Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed Mohamed Elsanousi as its newest commissioner.
USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck, acknowledging the White House’s appointment of Dr. Elsanousi, said, “USCIRF welcomes Mohamed Elsanousi to the Commission and looks forward to the valuable perspective that his years of experience will bring. His expertise and insight on interfaith engagement and minority rights will be a great addition to help support the Commission’s mission to unflinchingly identify threats to religious freedom abroad.”
Dr. Elsanousi comes to the independent, bipartisan federal government entity with a wealth of experience advocating for minority religions, interfaith dialogue and human rights and has worked tirelessly to safeguard the rights of Christian, Jewish and other religious minorities in Muslim-majority communities.
“Mohamed Elsanousi’s contributions to the issue of international religious freedom provides a significant depth of expertise that the Commission can draw upon.”
His efforts led to the 2016 Marrakesh Declaration, a statement by over 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state and scholars calling for greater religious freedom in their countries.
Dr. Elsanousi’s credentials include serving as founding executive committee member of Shoulder to Shoulder and co-chair of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council to the United Nations. He additionally serves on the boards of directors and trustees for numerous interfaith organizations, including the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies and the Center for Interreligious Dialogue at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.
He currently serves as the executive director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council applauded Mohamed Elsanousi’s appointment to the Commission, stating that it “represents a significant opportunity to influence policies that address international religious freedoms and human rights violations and underscores the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in positions of influence, ensuring that our nation’s commitment to religious freedom is inclusive and robust.”
“Mohamed Elsanousi’s contributions to the issue of international religious freedom provides a significant depth of expertise that the Commission can draw upon,” USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland said.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress to expose religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
As an organization working to build a world that is safe and inclusive for members of every faith, STAND recognizes Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi’s extensive work to unite religions in the name of peace—and we extend our congratulations on this significant appointment, which will allow him to fight for religious freedom on an even broader scale.
