WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Indian government today failed to issue visas to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in time for a long planned trip to India. The goal of the Commission’s trip was to discuss and assess religious freedom conditions in that nation.

“We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government’s denial, in effect, of these visas.  As a pluralistic, non-sectarian, and democratic state, and a close partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit. USCIRF has been able to travel to many countries, including those that are among the worst offenders of religious freedom, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, China, and Burma.  One would expect that the Indian government would allow for more transparency than have these nations, and would welcome the opportunity to convey its views directly to USCIRF,” said Robert P. George, Chairman of USCIRF.

The USCIRF delegation was scheduled to leave on March 4 and had the support of the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.  USCIRF’s principal responsibilities include reviewing, through the lens of international human rights law, the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and making policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.  USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission with commissioners appointed by the President and the leaders in both Houses of Congress. 

“USCIRF will continue to pursue a visit to India, given the ongoing reports from religious communities, civil society groups, and NGOs that the conditions for religious freedom in India have been deteriorating since 2014,” said Chairman George.

For more information about India see USCIRF’s chapter from the 2015 Annual Report. 

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

The only Christian in Pakistan’s government, Bhatti was assassinated on March 2, 2011 outside his mother's home in Islamabad.  Bhatti’s murder followed the assassination of Salman Taseer, the Muslim governor of Punjab province, who also was killed for his opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy law. Both men had championed Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who was sentenced to death for blasphemy and today languishes in prison. Taseer’s bodyguard, who killed him while invoking the Qur’an, was hung on February 29, after having been convicted by an anti-terrorism court and sentenced to death.  It is shocking to note that many in Pakistan view the bodyguard as a hero. Bhatti’s killers remain at large.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law often is used against members of religious minority communities, including Ahmadis, Christians, and Hindus, as well as Muslims who hold views that extremists and others deem “un-Islamic” or offensive. Pakistan detains the greatest number of individuals for blasphemy of any country in the world; USCIRF knows of at least 38 prisoners of conscience who currently are being detained.

“The Pakistani government’s enforcement of its blasphemy law fosters a climate of impunity that emboldens religious extremist groups, their sympathizers, and others to target religious minorities and those with whom they disagree,” said Chairman George. “Given the Pakistani government’s perpetration and toleration of particularly severe violations of religious freedom, USCIRF continues to urge that Pakistan be designated a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) by the U.S. government.”

USCIRF since 2002 has recommended that the State Department name Pakistan as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for its “systematic, ongoing and egregious” violations of religious freedom. The State Department has not designated Pakistan a CPC. For more information on religious freedom conditions in Pakistan and recommendations for U.S. policy, please see USCIRF’s 2015 Annual Report chapter on Pakistan and a press release on a March 2015 trip to Pakistan.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) solemnly marks the one-year anniversary on February 26 of the brutal murder of Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American secular blogger.  Attackers wielding machetes killed Roy after he left a book fair during a visit to Dhaka.  His wife, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, survived the attack with serious wounds.

“USCIRF extends its deepest condolences to the family of Avijit Roy, and calls on the Bangladeshi government to redouble its efforts to investigate this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.  The government also must take concrete steps to ensure the safety of others who are exercising their rights to freedom of expression and religion or belief,” said USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George.

In addition to Roy, four bloggers and publishers have been murdered this past year including: Washiqur Rahman Babu, Ananta Bijoy Das, Niloy Chatterjee, and Faisal Arefin Dipan.  Labeled as apostates and blasphemers, the bloggers were targeted by extremists because of their advocacy of secularism, freedom of thought, religious and communal tolerance, and political transparency and accountability.  A “hit-list” of other bloggers marked for assassination is freely available on the Internet. It includes the names of people associated with translating and disseminating the bloggers’ work.

“Bangladesh is at a crossroads. The government of Bangladesh should not stand by idly as religious and communal tensions increase and emboldened extremist groups target for assassination both members of religious communities and advocates of secularism,” said Chairman George. “USCIRF urges the Bangladeshi government to take steps to eliminate religious discrimination and diminish religious and communal tensions and the climate of violence and impunity directed at secular bloggers and religious minorities.  The Commission also urges the U.S. government to provide humanitarian parole for a limited number of Bangladeshi writers at imminent risk of being assassinated by extremist groups.”

USCIRF has placed Bangladesh on its “other countries monitored list” since 2013 due to societal discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and violence committed against religious minority communities. Bangladesh was on USCIRF’s “Watch List” from 2005 to 2008. For more information, see USCIRF’s 2015 Annual Report chapter on Bangladesh. Read USCIRF’s January 2016 letter to Secretary John Kerry.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact Travis Horne at [email protected] or 202-786-0615.