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December 11, 2014 | By Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett and Daniel I. Mark

The following op-ed appeared in Deseret News on December 11, 2014.

Today, Dec. 10, as we commemorate Human Rights Day and the landmark 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we recall how last year at this time, what many consider the world’s oldest human rights declaration — inscribed on the Cyrus Cylinder — concluded its U.S. tour in Los Angeles. More than 300,000 people viewed it before its return to the British Museum.

Excavated from the ruins of ancient Babylon in 1879 in what is now Iraq, the Cyrus Cylinder includes words from Cyrus of Persia (now Iran), the most powerful ruler of his time, after capturing Babylon more than 25 centuries ago. Setting a lofty standard for that time, Cyrus’ words are a haunting rebuke for our own era — for the Islamic State group in Iraq, the theocracy of Iran and today’s world as a whole: More than three quarters of the world’s people live in countries which perpetrate or tolerate serious religious freedom abuses.

Cyrus’ words heralded an exemplary policy of religious tolerance, producing stability across his vast multicultural domain — and suggesting that more freedom, rather than less, can be a recipe for a safer and more secure world.

Here is part of the British Museum’s translation of the Cyrus Cylinder:

“I am Cyrus, … king of Babylon … Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world ….

“I went as [a] harbinger of peace into Babylon. … My … troops marched peaceably. … I sought the welfare of … Babylon and all its sanctuaries. As for [its] population … I freed them from their bonds ….

“I collected together … their people and returned them to their [homelands].”

One of the proclamation’s many paraphrases includes this excerpt:

“I ordered that all shall be free to worship their gods without harm … I ordered closed places of worship … to be reopened. … I brought their people together and rebuilt their homes.”

At least two notable things distinguish Cyrus’ utterances from those of his contemporaries. First, his words contain plenty of carrots and no discernible sticks. Cyrus makes no fear-inducing references to horrors inflicted on foes. He implicitly rejects Islamic State-like atrocities. This forbearance was nearly unheard of among preceding conquerors.

Second, the Cyrus Cylinder appears to affirm human rights and champion religious tolerance.

Of course, words are one thing; actions are another. Did Cyrus’ deeds match his words?

The evidence suggests they did. Cyrus’ description of his treatment of the Babylonians neatly parallels the Bible’s depiction of how he treated the Jews, whom the Babylonians had conquered and deported. As the Bible relates, upon capturing Babylon, Cyrus released the Jews from captivity and repatriated those desiring to return to their homeland, as he did with other peoples.

Thus, if both the Cylinder and the Bible are accurate about Cyrus, he managed to treat both the Babylonians and the Jews with equal respect for their religious rights.

There is one final bit of evidence that validates Cyrus’ words: Other writers of antiquity, including Herodotus and Xenophon, bestowed similar accolades on his governance. According to Xenophon: “[T]hose who were subject to him, he treated with esteem and regard, as if they were his own children, while [they] … respected Cyrus as their ‘Father.’ … What other man … after having overturned an empire, ever died with the title of ‘The Father’ from the people whom he had brought under his power?”

This praise is noteworthy because both men were Greeks, who had no love lost for their Persian adversaries.

Today, researchers are confirming what Cyrus recognized more than 25 centuries ago: Tolerant governments can produce stable societies by winning people’s confidence and trust. The Islamic State group and other tyrants reject this approach, as do dozens of nations, from Burma to China, Eritrea to Pakistan and Russia to Uzbekistan, as documented by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, on which we serve. The outcome is insecurity and strife.

While much of the world remains darkened by tyranny, Cyrus’ vision lives on through Human Rights Day, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the hopes and aspirations of billions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2014 I USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To commemorate International Human Rights Day tomorrow, December 10, the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlights the plight of prisoners of conscience around the world, particularly those imprisoned due to their faith or belief. 

On International Human Rights Day in 2012, USCIRF, along with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) and Amnesty International, launched the Defending Freedoms Project (DFP).  Through this project, Members of Congress advocate on behalf of prisoners of conscience from around the world. 

“Through their actions, Members of Congress stand in solidarity with these imprisoned individuals, letting them and their families know that they are neither alone nor forgotten,” said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett.  “By shattering the silence, Congressional attention seeks to, and has helped, improve the conditions under which prisoners are held and, in some cases, secured their freedom.

“The Defending Freedoms Project is about people who have been detained for who they are, what they believe, and how they have chosen to express their convictions. We must shine a light on them and the governments of the countries that have imprisoned them, not just on International Human Rights day, but every day.  We must continue our advocacy until these countries have implemented needed reforms that reflect internationally approved standards that many have agreed to in writing but violate in practice,” said Lantos Swett.

Defending Freedoms Project prisoners include Tun Aung (Burma), Ilham Tohti (China), Saeed Abedini, Ayatollah Mohammad Boroujerdi, and the Baha’i Seven  (Iran), Asia Bibi (Pakistan), Raif Badawi (Saudi Arabia), Gaybullo Jalilov (Uzbekistan) and Father Ly (Vietnam).  Other prisoners come from countries including: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

USCIRF applauds Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), the co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, for their leadership of this project and their support for human rights and religious freedom.  “The Commission especially wants to thank Representative Wolf who is retiring from Congress this year for his indefatigable and long-standing efforts in support of the oppressed.  He is an example for us all, and we will miss him,” said Lantos Swett.

More information about the Defending Freedoms Project.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-9812.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2014 I USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the horrific November 28 attack on worshippers at Kano’s Central Mosque that killed and injured more than 100 persons. 

“We offer our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this senseless violence.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the injured,” said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett.   “We must never become inured to the horror of such violence and we urge the government of Nigeria to make it a priority to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of this cruel violence.” 

Boko Haram frequently attacks mosques and Muslim leaders who criticize the terrorist organization.  Muhammed Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, is Nigeria’s second highest Muslim leader and usually leads prayers at Kano’s Central Mosque.  However, he was out of the country when suicide bombers and gunmen raided the mosque as Friday prayers started.   Emir Sanusi dared to openly condemn the violence of Boko Haram.

USCIRF continues to recommend that the U.S. government call on the Nigerian government to utilize the judiciary fully to combat the Boko Haram movement rather than relying solely on a counterterrorism strategy involving the security services.  USCIRF also recommends that the U.S. government encourage and support the Nigerian government’s efforts to provide additional security personnel to protect northern Christian minorities, clerics, and Muslims -- including those traditional rulers who denounce Boko Haram’s attacks.  The government of Nigeria also should consider creating a witness protection program for these individuals.

Boko Haram violence has intensified in the past several months, and has attacked houses of worship and religious processions.  Dozens of Shia Muslims were killed on November 3 when a suicide bomber targeted an Ashura ceremony on Potiskum. In areas Boko Haram controls, churches have been destroyed and Christians have been told to convert, die or leave.  An estimated 650,000 people remain internally displaced due to the violence, and more than 100,000 people are refugees in Chad and Cameroon.  In addition, Boko Haram has kidnapped hundreds of women and school children, with reports of their being trafficked and sold into slavery. 

USCIRF recommended in its 2014 Annual Report that the State Department designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC). Nigeria’s democracy is being tested by recurring sectarian violence, targeted attacks against Christian and Muslim critics, the misuse of religion by politicians, religious leaders, and others, and rampant corruption.  While the Nigerian government does not engage in religious persecution, it tolerates severe violations through its continued failure to prosecute perpetrators of religiously-related violence that has killed at least 18,000 Nigerians, both Christians and Muslim.  See the chapter on Nigeria for more information.

To interview a USCIRF commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0613.