Aug 31
Aug 31st 11:00am
-
Aug 31st 12:00pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
USCIRF Conversation: Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in Algeria
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Event
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual event about deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Algeria.
This event will highlight recent blasphemy convictions and other court decisions that have negatively impacted religious freedom and resulted in increased repression of religious minorities in Algeria. A 2020 USCIRF report found that Algerian authorities brought blasphemy charges against converts and allegedly committed acts of violence against accused blasphemers. Algerian authorities have also forcibly closed Protestant churches in recent years and prosecuted Protestants and Ahmadiyya Muslims for “offending the prophet Muhammad” and “degrading the principles of Islam.” This discussion will also explore U.S. policy options and underscore USCIRF’s 2021 Annual Report recommendation to the U.S. Department of State to include Algeria in its Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe religious freedom violations.
USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and Commissioner Frederick A. Davie will be joined by guest panelists Daniel Hoffman of Middle East Concern and Asif Arif of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. USCIRF Director of Outreach and Policy Dwight Bashir will moderate the conversation followed by questions and answers from attendees.
Panelists
- Nadine Maenza, Chair, USCIRF
- Frederick A. Davie, Commissioner, USCIRF
- Daniel Hoffman, Executive Director, Middle East Concern
- Asif Arif, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA
- Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF
This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].
Aug 19, 2021
We have seen a significant deterioration in religious freedom conditions in South Asia in recent years. Blasphemy cases, forced conversions, attacks on houses of worship, hate speech, and violence targeting religious minorities are among the long list of religious freedom concerns in the region—particularly in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Farahnaz Ispahani joins us to expound upon the myriad of concerns in the region. She is a former member of Parliament in Pakistan, and is currently a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and a Senior Fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute.
Read more about USCIRF’s policy recommendations for all countries mentioned in this episode in the 2021 USCIRF Annual Report.
Aug 19, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report Highlighting Religious Freedom Conditions in Eritrea
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new country update highlighting religious freedom conditions in Eritrea:
Eritrea Country Update – This new report provides an update on religious freedom conditions in Eritrea, noting progress made and ongoing challenges in the country. The Eritrean government has eased some restrictions on the Baha’i and Jewish communities and has released some religious prisoners of conscience but has maintained government control of religion and mandatory military service. Moreover, the report discusses diplomatic relations between the United States and Eritrea and provides concrete recommendations for the U.S. government to help advance religious freedom in the country. This includes urging the release of all remaining religious prisoners, such as Patriarch Abune Antonios, as well as removing legal barriers to allow all Eritreans increased religious freedom.
In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S State Department designate Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. The Eritrea chapter is also available in Tigrinya.
###
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].