Apr 15, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2013| By USCIRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ongoing attacks and retaliations by Muslims and Christians in Nigeria's violent, religiously and ethnically mixed Middle Belt has left more than 100 dead and dozens of properties destroyed since March of this year. This recent Muslim-Christian violence in Plateau State exposes the Nigerian government's failure to effectively deal with a history of religiously-related violence that threatens the country's stability.
"Religiously-related violence has led to more deaths in northern Nigeria than have Boko Haram attacks. The Nigerian government needs to end this entrenched violence and the culture of impunity,” said U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett.
USCIRF has recommended since 2009 that Nigeria be named a "country of particular concern” (CPC) due to the government's failure to hold accountable perpetrators of religiously-related violence. While since 1999 more than 14,000 persons, both Muslims and Christians, have been killed, USCIRF has been able to document that only 1% of the perpetrators have been prosecuted.
"The Nigerian government's failure to prosecute perpetrators of religiously-related violence only encourages reprisals and intensifies local tensions and mistrust. Boko Haram uses this impunity as a recruitment tool and to justify its attacks on Christians,” said Lantos Swett.
The most recent round of fighting started on March 20-21 when armed men, alleged to be from the Fulani tribe, opened fire on the Christian village of Ratas while villagers slept, killing 19. This violence since has led to Christian and Muslim reprisal attacks throughout Plateau State and even Kaduna State, including an Easter weekend assault that left an estimated 80 dead.
In 2012, Boko Haram, an extremist and violent Muslim group, attacked more than 25 churches, primarily those in cities with a history of religious-related violence, to incite Christian reprisals and destabilize Nigeria. Additionally, Boko Haram, which has killed more Muslims than Christians over the past few years, has used Christian attacks on Muslims to justify its attacks on Christians.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner please contact USCRIF at (202) 523-3258 or [email protected]
Apr 12, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2013 | By USCIRF
WASHINGTON, DC - President Barack Obama on April 11, 2013 announced his intent to appoint Eric P. Schwartz to serve on the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom.
"USCIRF welcomes Eric Schwartz,” said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett. "Given his remarkable depth of knowledge, experience, and commitment, I am confident that he will be a great asset to our Commission as we work to help advance the cherished right of freedom of religion or belief around the world.”
Eric P. Schwartz is Dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, a position he has held since 2011. Prior to joining the Humphrey School, he spent 25 years in senior positions at the State Department, the National Security Council, the United Nations, and the U.S. Congress, and in the NGO community. From 2009 to 2011, he was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration. Mr. Schwartz also served as the United Nations Secretary General's Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery from 2005 to 2007, and as Chief of Office in Geneva for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2003 to 2004. From 1993 until 2001, he was on the staff of the National Security Council, and from 1986 to 1989, he served as Washington Director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Mr. Schwartz received a B.A. from Binghamton University, an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Comprised of nine members, USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad and makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner please contact USCRIFat (202) 523-3258 or [email protected]
Apr 5, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2013| By USCIRF
WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed concern about the Egyptian government's continued application of blasphemy-like charges that are used to stifle dissent and limit the freedoms of religion and expression.
Bassem Youssef, a well-known Egyptian comedian and satirist, was questioned on Monday April 1, 2013 by Egypt's Public Prosecution office after being charged with "insulting Islam” on his popular television program. He also was charged with insulting the president and spreading false information aimed at threatening public order. On Wednesday, April 3, Egyptian comedian Ali Qandil was questioned after being charged with "insulting Islam,” based on a February appearance on Mr. Youssef's program. Both Youssef and Qandil posted bail and were released. These are just two of the most recent examples of a disturbing trend that affects all Egyptians.
"Unfortunately, the Egyptian government's use of blasphemy-like charges is nothing new,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett. "However, these kinds of charges have increased significantly over the past two years and have chilled the dissenting views of not only Egyptian Muslims, but Christians and other minorities. In fact, during the democratic transition in Egypt, there has been a notable increase in ‘contempt of religion" cases that disproportionately affect Coptic Orthodox Christians.”
Article 98(f) of Egypt's Penal Code prohibits blasphemy of the "divine” religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - and criminalizes "any use of religion to promote or advocate extremist ideologies...with a view toward stirring up sedition, disparaging or showing contempt for any divinely revealed religion, or prejudicing national unity and social harmony.” Furthermore, Article 44 in Egypt's new constitution prohibits "insult or abuse of all religious messengers and prophets.”
During a recent USCIRF visit to Egypt, government officials clearly stated their troubling view that there should be consequences, including criminal prosecution, for individuals who publicly make comments that may insult the religious feelings of others.
"Rather than limiting religious freedom and free expression, the Egyptian government should abolish ‘contempt of religion" laws, and direct this prosecutorial energy towards government-funded clerics, government officials, or individuals who incite violence against individuals from Muslim or non-Muslim minority communities. Provisions in both the Egyptian penal code and constitution fly in the face of international human rights standards, which protect the right to freedom of religion and expression. These provisions must change if Egypt ever will realize its hopes for a genuine democracy,” concluded Dr. Lantos Swett.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCRIF at (202) 523-3258 or [email protected]