Katrina Lantos Swett: “We are concerned that the designations that have been made in the past simply become... part of the wallpaper that…”

By using these tools, and, frankly, I believe they have never been fully used, the U.S. can encourage respect for this right.

I think that it is a very flimsy excuse for not funding technologies that enable vast numbers of people to access the internet freely.

It offends me that as a result of exercising my right to free speech by writing a book, it has been necessary to take these steps to protect myself from an authoritarian foreign power.

USCIRF stands with Ms. Abedini and her family, has called repeatedly for the Pastor's release, and urges the U.S. Government at the highest levels to demand his release.