This website is provided as a public service by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. The information contained on this site is public information. It may be freely distributed or copied.

For site-management purposes, we collect statistical information. The Commission uses this information to determine interest in various areas of the site and to monitor system performance. We do not collect personally identifying information or attempt to identify individual users and their usage patterns. We collect only the following information:

• the name of the domain from which you access the Internet (e.g., state.gov, aol.com, etc.);
• the date and time you access our site;
• the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to our site or the Internet address of the computer used to link to our site.

In order to improve the performance of our site, we will attempt to set a "cookie" in your computer. A cookie is a small string of text that allows our server to determine the appropriate page structure for your browser as you initiate your visit and ensures that those values are re-used as you navigate through our site. These cookies are returned only to our server and the information from the cookies does not identify you personally. We do not retain any information from these cookies and the all cookies-related information is deleted from our servers every three (3) hours. You can still visit and use the site if you have your browser set to refuse cookies -- the only impact is that page navigation will be slightly slower.

We will not obtain personally identifying information about you when you visit our site, unless you choose to provide such information. For example, if you send an E-mail message, we may retain your E-mail address and other information that you provide in order to respond to you. We will not release any personally identifying information, including E-mail addresses, to the public or to private organizations.

The Commission uses software to monitor traffic and to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, to cause harm, or otherwise to damage this site. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this server are strictly prohibited. Unauthorized use, tampering with or modification of this system -- including supporting hardware or software -- may subject the violator to criminal and civil penalties. In the event of unauthorized intrusion, all relevant information regarding possible violation of law may be provided to law enforcement officials.