Mar 25, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2020

USCIRF Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack against Sikh House of Worship in Kabul

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns today’s Islamic State terrorist attack against a Sikh gurdwara in Kabul and expresses its deepest condolences to the victims and their families. The Afghan Interior Ministry announced that suicide bombers and gunmen killed 25 people, including a child, during the assault and wounded another eight. Following six hours of fighting, Afghan security forces successfully rescued 80 hostages held inside the Sikh house of worship.

“The horrific terrorist attack on the gurdwara in Kabul is a tragic reminder of the many challenges facing Afghanistan’s religious minorities amidst the struggle to find a lasting peace,” USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins stated. “Such an attack on a sacred space represents one of the most egregious assaults on religious freedom. We are thankful for the Afghan security forces’ efforts to save the hostages held by the terrorists but more work needs to be done to prevent these attacks against houses of worship in Afghanistan and the needless loss of life.”

USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin added, “This attack shows us the vital link between security and religious freedom. We urge the Afghan government to provide increased security for Afghanistan’s already vulnerable Sikhs and their houses of worship, as well as other religious minority communities.”

In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF noted that “Afghanistan’s leadership struggled to maintain security in the country, especially for religious minority groups,” many of whom have been forced to practice their faith underground for fear of reprisal by terrorist groups or society at large.

For more information on Afghanistan and its struggles to protect religious freedom, please see an October 2019 USCIRF Country Update: Promoting Religious Freedom in Afghanistan. For additional information on the importance of protecting houses of worship globally, see a summary of proceedings from a recent USCIRF hearing with recommendations for U.S. policy.

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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].

 

Additional Name(s): سهیل عربی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Rajaei Shahr Prison, Karaj

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Kurd

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: January/2/2023

Date of Release: March//2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Insulting Public Officials & Institutions Miscellaneous Religious Crimes Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Soheil Arabi

Extra Bio Info:

Soheil Arabi was detained in relation to nationwide protests against mandatory religious veiling.

On January 2, 2023, authorities in Tehran arrested Arabi from his home under unclear circumstances. His arrest came amid a crackdown on protestors, civil society, and former political prisoners following nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini and mandatory religious veiling. Arabi reportedly experienced a heart attack during interrogation and was transferred to Sajjad Hospital. 

On February 1, 2023, Arabi was reportedly transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj.

In March 2023, Arabi was released on bail. 

In May 2023, it was reported that Arabi was sent into internal exile in Borazjan County of Bushehr province.

Arabi, who suffers from high blood pressure, has reportedly been deprived of medicine while in prison.

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Soheil Arabi was previously imprisoned for blasphemy.

In late 2013, authorities arrested Arabi, a blogger, photojournalist, and human rights activist, and charged him with “insulting the Prophet Mohamed” for his alleged Facebook activity.  United For Iran lists the charges leveled against him at the time as "insulting the Prophet" (Art. 262 IPC), "committing corruption on earth" (Art. 286 IPC), "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "insulting Islamic sanctities" (Art. 513 IPC), and “insulting the Supreme Leader” (Art. 514 IPC). 

On August 30, 2014, Branch 76 of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced him to death.

In June 2015, Branch 24 of the Supreme Court rejected Arabi’s death sentence. His case was then referred to Branch 10 of the Tehran General Court.

On an unspecified date, Arabi was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for “insulting the sacred.”

Since going to prison, Arabi has been charged several more times related to his activism advocating for better prison conditions for inmates, resulting in his prison stay being extended.

In October 2018, it was reported in October 2018 that Arabi was sentenced to another three years in prison and three years in exile for "agitating the public consciousness" (Art. 698 or 746 IPC or Art. 18 of the Computer Crimes Act) and one year in prison on the charge of "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). Arabi was expected to serve two years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently. This sentence was reportedly upheld.

In December 2020, Arabi reportedly had a hearing after being charged with "propaganda activities against the state."

In February 2021, Arabi was reportedly acquitted of that most recent charge. 

In May 2021, Arabi reportedly had another hearing after being charged again with "propaganda activities against the state" for “reporting on the situation of the prison, hunger strike in protest against the deprivation of the political prisoners from medical treatment, and publishing statements about November 2019 general protests in Iran.”

On November 16, 2021, Arabi was reportedly released from Rajaei Shahr Prison and brought to Borazjan to serve his exile.

Arabi’s health condition in prison had been marked by repeated hunger strikes, severe medical problems, medical neglect, and prison guard beatings.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): محمد نوری

Gender: Male

Current Location: Arak Central Prison, Arak, Markazi

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: October//2015

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Insulting Public Officials & Institutions

Mohammad Nouri

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Nouri is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy. 

In or around October 2015, authorities reportedly arrested Nouri after accusing him of posting anti-Islamic content on social media. He was reportedly denied access to a lawyer and subjected to prolonged solitary confinement. 

In February 2016, it was reported that an appeals court upheld Nouri's death sentence.  It is unclear when this originally sentence was issued. According to a September 2016 report, Nouri was sentenced to 16 months in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” (Art. 514 IPC) and then death.  United For Iran reports he was charged with "insulting Islamic sanctities" (Art. 513 IPC).

In March 2017, it was reported that the Supreme Court had confirmed the death sentence of one of Nouri's co-defendants, Sina Dehghan.  However, there is no word whether or not the court confirmed Nouri's death sentence. 

Publicly Available Information:
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