FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2019
 

Religious Extremists Exploit Blasphemy Laws in Indonesian Election, Says USCIRF

WASHINGTON, DC – Following the completion of Indonesia’s April 17 general elections, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed grave concerns about the politicization of religion during the campaign season. In particular, the use of the country’s blasphemy law by hardliners and other intolerant groups to attack political candidates for their religious beliefs is alarming.

“The fact that extremist individuals and groups have used Indonesia’s blasphemy law as a campaign tool shows that the law, rather than helping to prevent conflict, is ripe for abuse by some who seek to target and punish members of religious minorities. We urge the newly elected government to make protecting the religious freedom of all Indonesia’s citizens a priority by repealing the blasphemy law. We also urge the U.S. government to continue providing support to Indonesian civil society groups that monitor and educate the public about efforts by extremists to stoke intolerance and other threats to religious pluralism," said USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin.

In October 2018, Manchin and fellow commissioner Nadine Maenza visited Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan, and met with Indonesian government officials, members of civil society and religious leaders. In January, USCIRF warned about the threat the country’s blasphemy law poses to religious minorities.

USCIRF has placed Indonesia on its Tier 2 list for engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations that meet at least one of the elements of the “systematic, ongoing, egregious” standard used to designate a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2019

USCIRF Condemns Terrorist Attack on Shi’a Muslims in Pakistan

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned in the strongest possible terms Friday’s terrorist attack in Quetta, Pakistan, which left more than 20 dead and dozens injured. The attack, for which the Islamic State has reportedly claimed responsibility, took place in a neighborhood heavily populated by Hazaras, a mostly Shi’a Muslim ethnic group.

“We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by this horrific and cowardly attack against a community that already has suffered terribly in recent years at the hands of extremist groups,” said USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee. “We urge Pakistani authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable and to provide adequate protection for Hazara and other Shi’a Muslims who face such grave risks because of their faith.”

Every year since 2002, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Pakistan a "country of particular concern" (CPC) for "ongoing, systematic, egregious" violations of religious freedom. In December 2018, the State Department designated Pakistan as a CPC.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2019

 

USCIRF Commissioners Adopt American Pastor David Lin Through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
 

WASHINGTON, DC – Kristina Arriaga and Tony Perkins, commissioners on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), today announced their adoption of American pastor David Lin as part of the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project. In 2006, Chinese authorities in Beijing detained Pastor Lin, under unclear circumstances. In 2009, he was accused of contract fraud—a charge he denies—and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following commutation and reduction, he is due for release in April 2030. Until recently, Pastor Lin ministered to his fellow prisoners and was translating the Bible into Chinese. USCIRF is concerned about recent reports of Pastor Lin’s declining health and potential threats to his safety in prison.

“We call on Chinese authorities to provide Pastor David Lin with any medical attention that he needs and allow him to return home to the United States,” said Arriaga and Perkins. “The Chinese government has committed a grave injustice against this man who now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. We are especially concerned about the possibility that Pastor Lin is being targeted in prison because of his faith.”

Before his imprisonment, Pastor Lin was active in Beijing’s house church movement, which has long faced hostility from Chinese authorities. House churches are independent of state-sponsored religious organizations, and those who participate in and lead house churches often face intimidation, harassment, arrest, and harsh sentences. Under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown against independent religious groups—as well as other religious communities—and closed down several prominent house churches.

USCIRF has repeatedly recommended that the State Department designate China a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. The State Department again designated China a CPC in November 2018.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.