Jun 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Condemns Russian Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemned the recent increase in harsh prison sentences handed down to members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.
Commissioner Gary Bauer said, “Russia’s vicious targeting of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, guilty only of practicing their peaceful religious beliefs, clearly illustrates the government’s contempt for the international human rights treaties to which it is a party.”
On June 4, the Russian government sentenced Artem Gerasimov, a resident of occupied Crimea, to six years in prison because of his faith. A few days later on June 9 the government sentenced 61-year-old Gennady Shpakovsky to six and a half years—the harshest punishment yet given to a Jehovah’s Witness in Russia—for following his religion and sharing his religious views with others. The Jehovah’s Witnesses report that there are currently eight members in prison, 23 in pre-trial detention, 23 under house arrest, and 349 accused of practicing their faith.
“The ongoing campaign against the peaceful Jehovah’s Witnesses is one of the many reasons why USCIRF considers Russia worthy of being designated a ‘country of particular concern’ for systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations,” added Vice Chair Gayle Manchin. “We sincerely hope that the State Department will reach the same conclusion later this year.”
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Russia as a ‘country of particular concern’ in part because of its repression of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and other religious minorities that it deems “nontraditional.”
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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 Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years, 8 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/28/2018
Date of Sentencing: December/19/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Cult
Liu Min
Extra Bio Info:
Liu Min is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On November 28, 2018, officers from the Public Security Bureau in Changsha city arrested Liu reportedly in relation to her religious belief and role sorting church members' testimonies.
On December 19, 2019, the Wangcheng District People’s Court in Changsha sentenced Liu to seven years and eight months in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
Publicly Available Information:
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/28/2018
Date of Sentencing: December/19/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Cult
Chen Jin
Extra Bio Info:
Chen Jin is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On November 28, 2018, authorities detained Chen in relation to her religious beliefs.
On December 19, 2019, the Wangcheng District People’s Court of Changsha City sentenced Chen to seven years and four months in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).