Pakistani-American Dr Asif Mahmood chosen to head US religious freedom commission

WASHINGTON: Dr Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American physician and human rights advocate, has been unanimously elected chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, becoming the first South Asian to lead the bipartisan federal advisory body.

Dr Mahmood had earlier served as the commission’s vice chair. He was reappointed in May 2026 for a second term that runs until May 14, 2028, after serving as a commissioner for more than two years. He was reappointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

"I am deeply humbled and honoured to serve as Chair of the USCIRF. It is a remarkable journey-from a small rural village in Pakistan to leading one of the world’s foremost bodies dedicated to defending freedom of religion or belief and shaping US Foreign Policy in accordance with human rights globally," Dr Mahmood said in his acceptance statement.

"My commitment is to advocate for the rights of every person: those of all faiths and those who chose no faith at all. Together, let us work toward a world where freedom of religion or belief, mutual respect, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence are protected for everyone," he added.

Commission role and appointment

Created in 1998 through legislation signed by then president Bill Clinton, the USCIRF is an independent advisory commission that tracks religious freedom conditions around the world. Its reports and policy recommendations are submitted to the White House, the US State Department and Congress, making it a key advisory forum on international religious freedom.

The commission has nine members, appointed by the US president and senior Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress. Dr Mahmood succeeds former Missouri congresswoman Vicky Hartzler as chair.

After his reappointment earlier this year, Dr Mahmood said he was proud to be the first Pakistani, the first Muslim and the first Asian American to serve consecutive terms on the commission.

India-related work draws attention

His elevation to the chair is also likely to be closely watched in India, where his previous work on the commission has stirred debate. He played a central part last year in preparing a sharply critical USCIRF report on alleged religious freedom violations and the treatment of minorities during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.

At a commission hearing in May, Dr Mahmood said authorities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were gathering information on mosque imams, and he urged that India be designated a Country of Particular Concern for serious religious freedom violations.

The commission’s annual report also recommended that the Trump administration push India to permit independent assessments by the USCIRF and the US State Department of the country’s religious freedom situation. It further called for sanctions on India’s intelligence agency, RAW, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In addition, the commission recommended freezing the assets of officials found responsible for severe violations of religious freedom, limiting their entry into the United States, and tying US security assistance and bilateral trade policy to measurable progress on religious freedom in India.

Political and professional background

Political observers have described Dr Mahmood’s election as notable because of his Democratic Party affiliation and his appointment during the Trump administration. He is regarded as being close to several senior Democratic figures, including members of the Clinton family and former vice president Kamala Harris.

In electoral politics, Dr Mahmood was the Democratic nominee in California’s 40th Congressional District in 2022. Republican incumbent Young Kim held the seat, receiving 161,589 votes against Dr Mahmood’s 122,722. Earlier, he ran in 2018 for California insurance commissioner and polled about 850,000 votes, according to Ballotpedia, but was unsuccessful. Congressman Brad Sherman said at the time that Dr Mahmood had won more votes than any Muslim candidate in US election history.

Originally from Kharian in Punjab, Dr Mahmood studied medicine at Sindh Medical College before moving to the United States. He completed his residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and later undertook a pulmonary fellowship at Harlem Hospital, which is affiliated with Columbia University.

A resident of Bradbury, California, he works as a pulmonologist and has also served on the Medical Board of California since being appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2023. His current term on that body runs through 2027.

The California Hospital Association, which represents more than 500 hospitals, gave him its Humanitarian Award two years ago in recognition of his service. He also sits on the boards of the Organisation for Social Media Safety and the East Los Angeles College Foundation, and has been associated with UNICEF. Within the Pasadena community, he is also known for treating patients free of charge when they could not afford healthcare.