FOR YOUR INFORMATION

By  USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett 

Even as we prepare to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, European society's dark past of bigotry haunts our present

The following op-ed appeared in The Guardian on March 31, 2013. 

As fellow Americans prepare to join their Jewish friends and neighbors in solemn  commemoration of Yom Ha Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day , on 8 April, for many, the question that haunts us is this: has  Europe  fully transcended its past? If the past decade is any indicator, it has not. Despite much soul-searching following America's liberation of that continent, European antisemitism persists.

In Russia, which I visited on behalf of the  United States  Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) last October, I heard how xenophobia and intolerance, including antisemitism, fuel hate crimes by skinhead groups. In Belarus, the anti-Jewish utterances of President Lukashenko and the state media are coupled by a failure to identify or punish the vandals of Jewish cemeteries and other property. In Hungary, my parents' native country, the leader of its third largest party recently urged the government to create a list of Jews posing "a national security threat" - even as the government, including its parliament, condemned this statement.

Even in western Europe, where some of America's strongest historic allies reside, antisemitism also remains. Since 2000, anti-Jewish graffiti increasingly has appeared in Paris and Berlin, Madrid and Amsterdam, London and Rome, and synagogues have been vandalized or set ablaze in France and Sweden.

In Malmo, Sweden, physical attacks have fueled a Jewish exodus. A generation ago, Malmo was home to 2,000 Jews; today there are fewer than 700. In France, "unprecedented violence" took place last year, according to a  recent report by the security unit of France's Jewish community (pdf) . There were 614 antisemitic incidents in 2012, compared to 389 in 2011. Earlier this February, a woman was arrested in Toulouse, France after trying to stab a student at the Ohr HaTorah Jewish day school where four Jews were shot and killed in March 2012.

Who are the perpetrators of these hateful acts? Some are neo-Nazis or members of skinhead groups. Others are religious extremists who distort the religion of Islam to advance their own intolerant agendas. Most are hostile to democracy and pluralism.

I am reminded of the recently unearthed statements of Egypt's President Morsi, depicting the Jewish people as "descendants of apes and pigs" whom Egyptian "children and grandchildren" must hate, "down to the last generation". As the daughter of  Holocaust  survivors, I found Morsi's comments evoked Europe's dark past from his Middle East locale.

Compounding the problem are four factors. First, European officials remain reluctant to identify the ideological or religious motivations of the perpetrators. Second, surveys show that negative attitudes towards Jews among Europe's population remain widespread. Third, these surveys confirm that some of this bias reveals itself through certain criticisms of the state of Israel: while no country is beyond reproach, when criticism includes language intended to delegitimize Israel, demonize its people, and apply to it standards to which no other state is held, we must call it antisemitism.

Finally,  as USCIRF has documented , a number of European governments and political parties have added fuel to the fire by backing restrictions on vital religious practices. At least four countries - Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland - ban kosher slaughter. Authorities and political forces in Norway and Germany also have tried to ban infant male circumcision. These restrictions affect Muslims, as well.

What helps drive them is a monolithic secular ideology, which, like the monolithic state religion it replaced, views serious practitioners of Judaism, Islam, and other belief systems as outsiders. It also suggests a striking indifference to Europe's past persecution of Judaism.

Fortunately, over the past decade, Europe's largest  human rights  body, the  Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) , has taken firm stands against religious bigotry, including antisemitism. Humanitarian concerns demand nothing less.

Yet, there are other reasons to care. When Jews face trouble, so often do other minorities. And as the second world war taught a whole generation of Americans, the same forces targeting Jews often oppose freedom for all. The fight against antisemitism is a key element in freedom's battle against tyranny. It is a fight to preserve civilization and further human progress.

To paraphrase  Eric Hoffer, an American author writing half a century ago , as it goes with the Jews, so will it go with all of us. We are all in this together. As we recall Europe's darkest days, let this be our response to antisemitism. The stakes are too high not to stand for tolerance and decency.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCRIF at (202) 523-3258 or [email protected]

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

March 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission dedicated to monitoring the universal right to freedom of religion or belief, urges the Obama Administration during its second term to promote religious freedom as both a pivotal human right and a practical necessity. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right that encompasses other freedoms -- including those of expression, association, and assembly. It serves as the proverbial canary in the coal mine, as it often is the first freedom taken away. Recent studies have also shown that restrictions on religion are rising worldwide, and with that, an increase in societal hostility and instability. Consequently, religious freedom has real national security relevancy, as conditions supporting religious freedom can help combat the rise of violent religious extremism.

USCIRF is committed to working with the Administration and encourages the U.S. government, across agencies, to utilize the expertise of the Commission. USCIRF recommends that the Obama Administration implement the following actions.

At the White House

1. National Strategy: Create a White House national security strategy, presidential directive, or Executive Order to guide U.S. government's promotion of international religious freedom and ensure that this strategy is also reflected in the next Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) and as appropriate in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).
2. Interagency Working Group: Establish an interagency working group at the National Security Council to coordinate a whole-of-government effort on religious freedom, including civilian and defense agencies and USCIRF, and staff this initiative with the Director-level position provided by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
3. Individual Country Strategies: Develop individual country strategies that promote religious freedom, in consultation with USCIRF and nongovernmental organizations, to leverage both U.S. government influence and partnerships with advocacy organizations and religious communities.
4. Appointments: Whenever vacancies occur, quickly appoint an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and appoint Commissioners to USCIRF.

At the State Department/USAID

5. All Tools on Deck: Utilize all the tools provided to the U.S. government by IRFA, including annually designating "countries of particular concern” (CPCs) after the issuance of each State Department religious freedom report; undertaking robust diplomatic engagement of CPC countries through the use of binding agreements; and ending the use of "double hatted” sanctions towards non-reforming governments by applying specific actions directly related to religious freedom violations.
6. Training of Diplomats and Military Personnel: Require that all diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute and relevant members of the military receive training on the importance of religious freedom and practical ways to best promote this freedom as an aspect of U.S. foreign policy, so that Foreign Service officers, U.S. service members and military chaplains can more effectively engage with religious leaders and government and military officials in countries of concern.
7. USAID and Other Entities: Task USAID with developing and disseminating education materials on human rights, religious freedom, and the importance of interfaith understanding for the achievement of development objectives in countries of particular concern and fund teacher training initiatives to support this effort. Also ensure that the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Institute of Peace and other entities dispersing federal funds for grant making undertake specific programming on religious freedom.
8. Liaise with NGOS and Religious Communities: Formally establish a mechanism within the State Department to liaise with NGOs and religious communities working on religious freedom issues, such as continuing the Working Group on Religion and Foreign Policy, to improve the U.S. government's ability to promote religious freedom, interfaith understanding, and stability, and more fully involve USCIRF in its effort.

At the Office of International Religious Freedom

9. The Ambassador's Position: Strengthen the position of the Ambassador-at-Large by giving the Ambassador clear oversight and management authority of the IRF Office, and have the Ambassador chair a working group with other religiously oriented positions and programs at the State Department to ensure consistency in message and strategy.
10. The Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF): Empower the Office of International Religious Freedom so that it is the central location for all State Department religious freedom and religious engagement efforts by, among other efforts, enlarging its staff and deepening its expertise, and providing at least $4 million annually in dedicated programmatic funds for religious freedom promotion/protection.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner please contact USCRIFat (202) 523-3258 or [email protected]

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

March 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - USCIRF released the following letter in response to the issuance by the United States Government Accountability Office of its report on the International Religious Freedom Act: State Department and Commission are Implementing Responsibilities but Need to Improve Interaction.The full report can be found here.

March 12, 2013

Thomas Melito
Director, International Affairs & Trade
United States Government Accountability Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20548

Dear Mr. Melito:

I write today on behalf of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF; the Commission) regarding the report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled, "International Religious Freedom Act: State Department and Commission Are Implementing Responsibilities but Need to Improve Interaction.” We thank the GAO for undertaking this important investigation of U.S. promotion of international religious freedom abroad. USCIRF Commissioners and staff worked diligently over the past year with GAO's team of investigators to provide information and answer questions about our work. We appreciate the dedication and professionalism with which the GAO investigators undertook their efforts to understand the complex challenges facing the U.S. government"s global promotion of religious freedom.

We welcome GAO's finding that USCIRF is implementing its primary responsibilities, as set forth in the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). USCIRF consistently has worked to fulfill its statutory requirements as an independent and bipartisan commission to conduct an ongoing review of violations of religious freedom around the world, evaluate U.S. policy, and provide recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. To that end, USCIRF has proven to be a dependable resource for the U.S. government, providing independent analysis of the worst situations involving severe violations of religious freedom around the world and constructive policy recommendations on how the United States can effectively encourage governments to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief.

We also appreciate GAO's survey of nongovernmental organizations, and are pleased that the NGO community holds a very positive view of USCIRF's reports, further demonstrating the high quality of our work and our role as an independent and reliable resource.

Regarding interactions with the State Department, in recent years USCIRF Commissioners and staff have endeavored to improve the working relationship with the State Department generally and the Ambassador at Large specifically. The Ambassador at Large, as an ex officio Commission member, is welcome to attend all Commission meetings, and USCIRF staff has frequent contact with her office. We welcome the GAO recommendation that the Secretary of State and the USCIRF Chair jointly define how the State Department and USCIRF should interact in our mutual efforts to promote religious freedom. We stand ready for such a consultation.

Regarding the impact of USCIRF's findings and recommendations on bilateral relations, it is important to note that IRFA mandates that USCIRF review the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations based on international standards, and make recommendations to the U.S. government. USCIRF's mandate is neither to conduct diplomacy nor balance religious freedom against other U.S. national interests, and we make clear in all documents and meetings that the Commission is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government advisory body, separate and distinct from the Executive Branch and the State Department. However, at times, our findings draw the ire of offending governments that would prefer their shortcomings remain hidden and may result in bilateral friction. We recognize that USCIRF"s role sometimes poses a challenge for the State Department, but that role has been mandated by law, and - as the report notes - it also has produced opportunities for proactive diplomacy. USCIRF will continue to make every effort to mitigate confusion while continuing to fulfill our statutory mandate.

Pertaining to the GAO's findings on the State Department, USCIRF for 14 years has been monitoring the State Department's implementation of IRFA. GAO reviewed USCIRF reports that highlight areas where IRFA implementation has fallen short or where Congress' intent has not been fulfilled. For instance, USCIRF has highlighted the lack of annual designations by the State Department of "countries of particular concern” in recent years, the need for more vigorous U.S. government efforts to raise religious freedom concerns in bilateral relations, and the low placement of the Ambassador at Large within the State Department hierarchy. Of these and other issues, we note the report highlights how the Ambassador"s organizational status differs from other Ambassadors-at-Large, and that the State Department has provided inconsistent reporting policy and guidance to these Ambassadors.

As USCIRF reports have shown and independent studies verified, violations of the freedom of religion or belief can lead to instability and violence, while respect for religious freedom supports conditions that can lead to peace, prosperity, and stability. At a time when restrictions on religious freedom are increasing and many countries are redefining the state's relation to religion, it is critical that the United States government expand and increase its efforts to protect this fundamental freedom. USCIRF is honored to help the U.S. government in this important endeavor.

Sincerely,

Katrina Lantos Swett
Chair

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner please contact Samantha Schnitzer at (202) 786-0613 or [email protected] .