Dec 19, 2023
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Libya
Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Religious Freedom Conditions in Libya – This report provides an overview of concerning trends affecting freedom of religion or belief in Libya. Religious freedom and other human rights have suffered amid the country’s prolonged crisis of governance, in which the interim government in Tripoli and rival administrations based in eastern cities remain stalled on the path to long-postponed and critical elections. Authorities in both the west and east—as well as affiliated security actors and independent militias—have targeted for abuse and restricted the liberties of religious minorities, accused apostates and proselytizers, atheists, and people who have expressed dissenting interpretations of Islam. The report emphasizes Libya’s dire need for free and fair elections, a central government, and substantial constitutional and legislative reform to equip authorities and civil society to substantially improve freedom of religion or belief.
In 2022, USCIRF demonstrated that governments with an official or favored religion, which include Libya, are far more likely than those without them to maintain laws restricting religious freedom and other human rights on the basis of religion. Libya also currently has anti-conversion legislation and blasphemy laws on the books.
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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 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].
Additional Name(s): Bhamo, འབའ་མོ
Gender: Unspecified
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: Yes
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Praying Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Bamo is imprisoned for their religious activity.
On August 24, 2022, authorities in Seda (Serta) county, Ganzi (Kardze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Sichuan province, detained five Tibetans, including Bamo, after they had lit incense for a religious ceremony and prayed for the Dalai Lama in public. Police allegedly tortured them as well.
In July 2023, Bamo was released under unclear circumstances.
In September 2023, authorities detained Bamo reportedly in relation to their religious activity.
On an unspecified date, Bamo was sentenced to two years in prison.
"Four Tibetans rearrested and secretly sentenced to prison" Tibet Watch
"Bamo" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
Additional Name(s): ཀོ་རིས་
Gender: Unspecified
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: Yes
Sentence: 2 Years’ Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Praying Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Kori is detained for their religious activity.
On August 24, 2022, authorities in Seda (Serta) county, Ganzi (Kardze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Sichuan province, detained five Tibetans, including Kori, after they had lit incense for a religious ceremony and prayed for the Dalai Lama in public. Police allegedly tortured them as well.
In July 2023, Kori was released under unclear circumstances.
In September 2023, authorities detained Kori reportedly in relation to their religious activity.
On an unspecified date, Kori was sentenced to two years in prison.