July 25, 2012| by USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges an end to all violence and restrictions on peaceful religious activity in China's Xinjiang Uighur [Muslim] Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Religious freedom conditions in the XUAR have declined rapidly since the ethnic violence of June 2009. The Chinese government has instituted sweeping security measures that include efforts to weaken religious adherence and stop "illegal religious gatherings." Restrictions on Uighur Muslim religious activities have caused deep resentment with Beijing's oversight of the XUAR.

"Launched in the name of stability and security, Beijing's brutal campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims includes even the targeting of peaceful private gatherings for religious study and devotion,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett, USCIRF Chair. "The government is engaged in egregious abuses of internationally recognized human rights, including the precious right of freedom and religion or belief. Predictably, these abuses have led neither to stability nor security.”

In its March 2012 Annual Report, USCIRF outlined the religious freedom abuses that Beijing's policies have caused in the XUAR ( Click here to view 2012 USCIRF Annual Report Chapter on China ). Teachers, professors, university students, and other government employees are prohibited from observing Ramadan and engaging in daily religious activities such as reciting prayers, distributing religious materials, and wearing head coverings. Minors under the age of 18 continue to be denied access to some mosques and religious education.

Since USCIRF's March report was issued, Chinese police and security forces have raided "illegal religious schools" in the city of Hotan. Forty-seven Uighur Muslims were arrested and 17 children injured in the raids. In the city of Kashgar, Uighur men were sentenced to between seven to 10 years on charges that included "harboring extremist religious thoughts" and holding "underground religious meetings."

"By fueling anger and resentment, China's indiscriminate repression of Uighur religious, cultural, and political life may trigger precisely the extremism that Beijing is claiming to combat. For the sake of security as well as freedom, China's government should lift its restrictions on all peaceful religious activities, particularly during Ramadan,” said Dr. Lantos Swett.

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

July 24, 2012| by USCIRF

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourns the shocking death of Oswaldo Paya, a longtime human rights advocate in Cuba, who was killed on Sunday in an automobile accident.

"Oswaldo Paya was a committed, courageous champion for peaceful, democratic change and fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom, for all Cubans,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett. "Through the Varela Project, the Christian Liberation Movement, and other forms of activism, Paya spoke truth to power, holding accountable the abusers of freedom and dignity. My USCIRF colleagues and I offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and co-laborers in the battle for Cuba's future. Given questions surrounding the circumstances of his death, we urge that a full and transparent investigation be conducted.”

For decades, Paya spoke out against the repressive practices of the Castro regime. As USCIRF documented in its 2012 Annual Report, Cuba remains on its Watch List due to its continued detention, arrests, and harassment of religious leaders, control and monitoring of religious belief and practices through surveillance and legal restrictions, and invasive registration process for religious organizations.

"In the wake of Paya's death, and given its worsening economic and social problems, now is the time for Cuba to take real steps toward a brighter future by upholding freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief,” said Chairwoman Swett. "As countless countries can attest, freedom opens the door to prosperity and stability.”

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) sent the following letter on July 19, 2012:

Since Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power in February 2011, Egypt has seen both backsliding and progress during its democratic transition, and conditions for religious freedom are no exception.

Longstanding and serious problems of discrimination, intolerance, and other human rights violations continue, including against members of religious minorities and disfavored Muslims. Violence targeting Coptic Orthodox Christians increased significantly and the transitional government has failed to protect religious minorities from violent attacks at a time when minority communities have been increasingly vulnerable. This high level of violence and the failure to convict those responsible has fostered a climate of impunity, making further violence more likely. Last year, military and security forces used excessive force and live ammunition, particularly during the October 2011 Maspero violence, targeting Coptic Christian and Muslim demonstrators and places of worship resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. The government also continues to prosecute, convict, and impose prison terms on Egyptian citizens charged with blasphemy, impacting a diverse group of Egyptians, including dissident Sunni Muslims, Shi'a Muslims, Ahmadis, and Quranists as well as Christians.

For Christian groups, government permission is required to build a new church or repair an existing one, and the approval process is time-consuming and inflexible. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces repeatedly pledged to issue a new law that would apply equally to all religious groups" places of worship, but it was never adopted. In addition, the government has not responded adequately to combat widespread and virulent anti-Semitism in the government-controlled media. Implementation of previous court rulings - related to granting official identity documents to Baha'is and changing religious affiliation on identity documents for converts to Christianity - has seen some progress but continues to lag, particularly for Baha'is. Furthermore, presidential decrees issued more than 50 years ago remain in place banning Baha'is and Jehovah's Witnesses from practicing their faith.

During the transition, there also have been some positive developments for religious freedom. In May 2011, the government began to re-open more than 50 churches that had been closed, in some cases for years. In the aftermath of the October Maspero violence, the government took steps to reduce discrimination in the penal code. In July 2011, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that reconverts to Christianity would be permitted to obtain new national identity documents indicating their Christian faith without having to be listed as former Muslims. Finally, over the past year, the Grand Sheikh at Al-Azhar spearheaded a number of initiatives and published statements expressing support for some aspects of freedom of religion or belief in Egypt.

The success of Egypt's democratic transition hinges on full respect for the rule of law and compliance with international human rights standards, including freedom of religion or belief. During this important period of change, the U.S. government should work with the new Egyptian government to ensure that a portion of military assistance is used to help the Egyptian police assess security needs and develop and implement an effective plan for dedicated police protection for religious minority communities and their places of worship. The U.S. government also should press the new civilian government to undertake a series of reforms, including repealing blasphemy laws in Egypt's penal code, repealing decrees banning religious minority faiths, removing religion from official identity documents, and passing a unified law for the construction and repair of all religious groups" places of worship. In addition, the United States should press the Egyptian government to prosecute perpetrators of sectarian violence and to ensure that responsibility for religious affairs is not placed under the jurisdiction of a restructured domestic security agency. Finally, the U.S. government should encourage the Egyptian government to include robust protections for freedom of religion or belief in a new constitution.

Madam Secretary, just over a year ago, President Obama committed to prioritizing support for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in U.S. policy toward the Middle East and North Africa: As he stated, "Our support for these principles is not a secondary interest…it is a top priority that must be translated into concrete actions, and supported by all of the diplomatic, economic and strategic tools at our disposal.” We wholeheartedly endorse that view and with Egypt at such a critical juncture in its democratic transition, we strongly encourage the Administration to implement the concrete actions suggested above.

We thank you for your consideration of these recommendations and stand ready to assist in any way.

Sincerely,

Katrina Lantos Swett

Chair

cc: Beth Jones, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Steve Pomper, Acting Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs, National Security Council