President Joe Biden has appointed Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, as a Commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The White House announced his appointment on June 26, 2024.

USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan federal government commission established by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, monitors the global right to freedom of religion or belief. Using international standards, USCIRF tracks religious freedom violations worldwide and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Commissioners are appointed by the President and Congressional leaders from both political parties.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom,” said Dr. Elsanousi. “This appointment is a testament to the importance of fostering understanding and respect among diverse religious communities worldwide. I am committed to working with my fellow commissioners to uphold the universal right to international religious freedom and to advocate for those who face persecution for their faith. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact in promoting peace and religious freedom globally.”

Dr. Elsanousi currently serves as the Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (Peacemakers Network), supporting individual traditional and faith-oriented mediators, intra- and inter-faith dialogues, and the inclusive advancement of reconciliation efforts around the world. The Secretariat of the Peacemakers Network is hosted by Finn Church Aid.

“Freedom of religion or belief is an important issue for everyone, everywhere. It is not a full-time position, and that is why Dr. Elsanousi will continue with us as the Peacemakers Network’s Executive Director. We are proud to support Dr. Elsanousi in this role and believe it will be beneficial for all parties involved,” expressed Tomi Järvinen, Executive Director of Finn Church Aid.

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi has a distinguished career, previously serving as the Interfaith and Government Relations Director at the Islamic Society of North America. He contributed to the U.S. Department of State’s Taskforce on Religion and Foreign Policy and played a key role in developing the Marrakech Declaration, which advocates for religious freedom in Muslim-majority communities. Elsanousi founded Faiths4Vaccines to promote equitable vaccine distribution and combat vaccine hesitancy. He is also a founding member of Shoulder to Shoulder, co-chair of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council to the United Nations and serves on the boards of various interfaith organizations. Moreover, Dr. Elsanousi’s leadership in initiatives such as Faiths4Vaccines highlight his ability to mobilize faith communities and address pressing global challenges through interfaith cooperation. Dr. Elsanousi holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Law from Indiana University School of Law.