Advocacy:
Press Release: USCIRF Calls Attention to Pastor Raymond Koh on 5th Anniversary of Disappearance, February 11, 2022Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update, February 25, 2021
Press Release: USCIRF Commissioner Jim Carr Adopts Pastor Raymond Koh through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project, November 23, 2020
Country:
MalaysiaKey Fact:
Christian pastor from Malaysia
Detained Since:
Feb 13, 2017
Biography:
Pastor Raymond Koh (Pastor Koh), is a Christian pastor from Malaysia. Prior to his abduction, he ran an NGO focused on people living with HIV/AIDs, recovering addicts, and single mothers and children. Local Islamic authorities once investigated his organization over allegations that the group was working to convert Muslims to Christianity in addition to its various social and charitable endeavors. Proselytization to Muslims is illegal in several states. Pastor Koh is married to Susanna Liew.
On February 13, 2017, three black SUVs forced Pastor Koh to pull over on a highway in Petaling Jaya in the Malaysian state of Selangor. Footage from CCTV shows at least 15 men emerging from the SUVs to abduct Pastor Koh. This is the last public footage of Pastor Koh. As noted in USCIRF’s factsheet, the entire episode lasted 40 seconds, and the speed, coordination, and efficiency of the abduction suggest it had been meticulously rehearsed.
On October 19, 2017, the national Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), began an investigation into the disappearance of Pastor Koh. On April 3, 2019, SUHAKAM announced that Raymond Koh was a victim of enforced disappearance.
In response to the report, the government pledged a task force to investigate into the whereabouts of those disappeared, including Pastor Koh. On June 26, 2019, this task force was formed. In January 2020, the task force requested more time to investigate. Despite calls for making the report public, there has been no release of any information or update on the course of the investigation. Disappointed by the government’s silence, Susanna Liew, Pastor Koh’s wife, started legal proceedings against the government in February 2020, and is awaiting trial.
Nov 17, 2020
The United Nations system has several structures and entities that were created to address human rights concerns globally, many of which are relevant to universal right to freedom of religion or belief. Although some of these bodies have limitations, they provide opportunities for advocacy by and collaboration among governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief internationally.
In this episode of USCIRF Spotlight, we discuss the UN human rights mechanisms and structures related to international religious freedom and the limitations.
Featuring:
Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF
Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF
Read our recent report on UN Human Rights Systems here: https://www.uscirf.gov/publication/fa...
Nov 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Gravely Concerned about the Rise in Blasphemy Cases Leading to Mob Violence in Pakistan
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by the sharp rise in blasphemy cases and mob violence in recent months targeting Shi’a Muslims in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province.
“Firm action needs to be taken against mob violence and vigilantism targeting the Shiite communities,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “The Pakistani government is responsible for ensuring the rights, safety, and security of all its citizens, including religious minorities who are particularly vulnerable to the country’s rigid blasphemy laws.”
Last week, vigilante students at Kohat University of Science and Technology, in Kohat district, attempted to lynch an unnamed Shi’a student for allegedly posting blasphemous remarks on Facebook. The angry mob beat the student and charged the vice-chancellors office, demanding that the student be expelled from the university or they would kill him. The accused student was expelled, taken into police custody, and charged with blasphemy under Pakistan’s Penal Code.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported that in August alone more than 40 blasphemy cases were registered against members of the Shi’a community. The following month in September, in another incident in Charsada district, 61-year old Maruf Gul and his family home were attacked by an angry mob. Gul, who identifies as Sunni Muslim, was accused of questioning the story of Abraham’s offering to sacrifice his son Ismail to God with his Shi’a Muslim landlord. The accused was charged with blasphemy and arrested by police, who advised his family to move out of the neighborhood.
“It is imperative that the Pakistani government repeal its blasphemy law,” added USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore. “Until this happens, we call on the Pakistani government to enact reforms, including making blasphemy a bailable offense, requiring evidence by accusers, ensuring proper investigation by senior police officials, allowing authorities to dismiss unfounded accusations, and enforcing existing Penal Code articles criminalizing perjury and false accusations.”
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Pakistan as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom since 2002. In June 2020, USCIRF released a Policy Update on Pakistan, which provides recommendations for a binding agreement between the United States and Pakistan pursuant to Section 405(c) of IRFA to address religious freedom violations in Pakistan, including the reform and ultimate repeal of the blasphemy law.
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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].