USCIRF Welcomes Egypt’s Release of Coptic Activist Ramy Kamel

Washington, DC—The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomed the Egyptian State Security Prosecution’s release on January 8, 2022 of Coptic rights activist Ramy Kamel, who has endured more than two years of pre-trial detention since his arrest.

 “USCIRF commends Egypt’s decision to release Ramy Kamel after more than two years of pre-trial detention on unfounded charges,” said USCIRF Commissioner Tony Perkins. “We hope Mr. Kamel can now resume his important human rights and religious freedom advocacy—a cause which will help advance Egypt’s stated goals of increasing religious tolerance within Egyptian society.”

Mr. Kamel is a notable advocate for Egypt’s indigenous Coptic Christian minority, which has long suffered discrimination, targeted abuse, and marginalization. Amid the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, he helped found the Maspero Youth Union to highlight abuses of Copts such as the October 9, 2011 “Maspero Massacre,” during which the Egyptian military attacked and killed twenty-seven peaceful Coptic protestors. A USCIRF delegation met with Mr. Kamel during a visit to Egypt in early 2019.

Egyptian State Security arrested Mr. Kamel on November 23, 2019, one day before he was expected to travel to Geneva, Switzerland to testify at the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues. The spurious accusations against him at the time included “collaborating with a terrorist organization” and “spreading false news.” Over the more than two-year period in which Mr. Kamel was detained, the court issued multiple consecutive orders extending his detention.

USCIRF Commissioner Sharon Kleinbaum stated, “USCIRF continues to urge the U.S. government to work with the Egyptian government to reform the arrest and prosecution decisions and procedures underlying the detention of religious minorities and their advocates, as well as immediately release other religious freedom activists awaiting trial.”

Throughout Mr. Kamel’s detention, USCIRF has repeatedly condemned the charges against him and called for his release. USCIRF’s 2021 Annual Report and November 2021 Egypt Country Update acknowledge Egypt’s incremental steps toward improving religious freedom, but also highlight concerns to further improve conditions for religious minorities. In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF continued to recommend that the U.S. Department of State place Egypt on its Special Watch List for engaging in severe violations of international religious freedom.

###

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 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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Tajikistan

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Tajikistan Country Update – Religious freedom conditions continue to deteriorate in Tajikistan, as developments in neighboring Afghanistan reinforce the intersection between authoritarianism and security concerns. For over a decade, the Tajik government heavily regulated what it deemed as acceptable Islamic practice, subordinating Muslim institutions to the regime and imprisoning independent clerics, political opponents, and secular critics as “extremists” and “terrorists.” The imminent challenge posed by the Taliban’s rapid takeover in Afghanistan threatens to accelerate this trend and diminishes the potential for Tajikistan to reevaluate religious freedom restrictions. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief recently cancelled a planned trip to Tajikistan the country after failing to receive the promised official invitation, dampening hopes that Tajikistan country might be on the cusp of change. This report details ongoing violations of religious freedom and explains how the shifting geopolitical landscape in the region diminishes the prospect of significant reform.

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State continue to designate Tajikistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. Religious freedom conditions in Tajikistan were also discussed an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight podcast in September 2021.

###

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 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].