The US administration has appointed Pakistani-American Dr Asif Mahmood as a member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). He is designated as the Commissioner USCIRF.
He is named by US House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries to the key post. The longtime Democrat, Mahmood is the second Pakistani-American to have such a key role in any US administration.
Earlier, Khizr Khan, a Gold Star father, had served on the Commission from August 2021 to May 2022.
According to a press note issued by the USCIRF, Asif Mahmood is a practising physician, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith community organiser, and philanthropist. He led the advocacy for many human rights campaigns focused on South Asia. Mahmood was a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and held many roles in presidential campaigns. He is also currently the Chair of the Organisation for Social Media Safety (OFSSMS) and Board Member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California.
The US commission is an independent, bipartisan government agency which not only issues policy guidelines but also serves as a watchdog.
According to its website, “USCIRF monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations.”
