Report Release Invitation: Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians

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Invitation to New Report Release
Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians

Ellicott City, Maryland — The Burma Research Institute (BRI) invites you to the release of “Burma: Severe Violations of Religious Freedom Against Christians,” covering the 2021 military coup through December 2025. The report highlights the Burmese military’s egregious, systematic, and ongoing violations of religious freedom against Christians in Chin, Kachin, Karenni (Kayah), and Karen states, and Sagaing Region through church bombings, imprisonments of pastors, and killings of Christian leaders. Among other recommendations, BRI urges the Trump administration to determine these atrocities as crimes against humanity and war crimes. It also calls for congressional hearings. BRI is grateful to Sen. Chuck Grassley, President Pro Tempore, for helping us secure the room.

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (EST)
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building (Room 226)
                 50 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Zoom Link: The Zoom link will be sent the day before the event. 
Contact: 443-936-8616 or zotumhmung@burmari.org

RSVP HERE

PROGRAM:

Moderator: Virginia Farris, Policy Advisor, BRI

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM: Opening Remarks

  • Sen. Chuck Grassley (R – Iowa), President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. James Lankford (R – Oklahoma), Member, The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  • Vicky Hartzler, Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
  • Ambassador Sam Brownback, Co-Chair of the IRF Summit 2026 and former Ambassador At Large for International Religious Freedom 

12:15 PM – 12:35 PM: Report Presentation

  • Rev. Dr. Robin Stoops, BRI Board Chairman and former Associate General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA
  • Zo Tum Hmung, President and CEO, BRI 

12:35 PM – 12:45 PM: Witnesses

  • Anonymous Christian Clergy from inside Burma
  • Rev. Lakang Dau Qae (Ah Le), General Secretary, Kachin Baptist Churches USA, Elkridge, Maryland
  • Anonymous Christian Clergy in the United States from Burma 

12:45 PM – 1:00 PM: Q & A