FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2005

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned that members of religious minority communities who have fled Iraq may not be receiving the protection to which they are entitled under the Refugee Convention. The Commission has written the Department of State urging that the United States protect asylum seekers who are members of vulnerable religious minorities from being returned to Iraq. View Response

In December 2004, the Commission wrote President George W. Bush, and subsequently met with him, urging him to take action to protect members of vulnerable religious minorities within Iraq. Since that time, conditions have not improved, and religious minorities such as Chaldo-Assyrian Christians, Yazidis and Mandaeans have continued to be victims of targeted violence throughout the country. In light of the threats to the safety of these communities, USCIRF is concerned by recent reports that U.S. immigration judges in some locations are increasingly denying asylum claims brought by Chaldo-Assyrians from Iraq.

"The Commission urges the Congress and the Administration to provide legal protection in the United States to those members of the Chaldo-Assyrian community - as well as any other minority religious communities - who were ordered removed after a U.S. immigration judge determination that they may safely return to Iraq," said USCIRF Chair Michael Cromartie.

The United States and other countries should ensure that asylum and refugee adjudicators are educated about current country conditions in Iraq. The Commission urges that the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security thoroughly train immigration judges and refugee and asylum officers on conditions faced by religious minorities within Iraq. Training these adjudicators on international religious freedom conditions is required by law under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The Commission further recommends that attorneys within the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security who have a role in asylum administrative and judicial proceedings should also receive such training. In addition, the Commission repeats its February 2005 recommendation -- made in its Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal -- that the Department of Justice monitor and take steps to address significant variations in asylum adjudications from judge-to-judge.

The Commission also is concerned about a recent Advisory Opinion on Iraq issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Immigration judges in the United States and throughout the world often look to UNHCR for guidance and expertise. In September 2004, the UNHCR Advisory Opinion on Iraq specifically advised against returning rejected asylum seekers to Iraq and twice addressed particular problems faced by religious minorities there. In contrast, the September 2005 Advisory takes a differentiated regional approach. The 2005 Advisory concludes that -- while the security situation in most parts of Iraq has continued to deteriorate -- returns to the three Northern Governorates of Iraq may be facilitated, but only for returnees who have community or family links to the region. Others, UNHCR warned, would face serious protection and integration concerns. Unlike the 2004 Advisory, the current Advisory makes no mention whatsoever of religious minorities. The Commission is concerned that errors of omission in the UNHCR September 2005 Advisory opinion on Iraq could inadvertently lead adjudicators in the United States and elsewhere, who may rely on the Advisory Opinion, to reject asylum claims from members of religious minorities who have fled Northern Iraq.

"The new UNHCR Advisory fails to address reports that religious minority communities native to Northern Iraq - particularly the Chaldo-Assyrian villages - continue to face similar ‘substantial obstacles' to protection and integration which UNHCR states would confront Iraqis who are not native to the region," noted Cromartie. "The Commission has written Assistant Secretary of State Richard L. Greene to request that the State Department encourage UNHCR to re-issue an opinion which addresses the protection problems faced by religious minorities, particularly in the North."

The Commission is concerned that immigration adjudicators in the United States and elsewhere may rely on the September 2005 Advisory Opinion and reject asylum claims from members of religious minorities who have fled Northern Iraq.

In summary, the Commission calls upon:

• The Department of Justice to more effectively train and monitor immigration judges and attorneys within the Office of Immigration Litigation and the Board of Immigration Appeals, to ensure against inconsistent asylum decisions, particularly with regard to Iraqi religious minorities;
• The Department of Homeland Security to train its immigration trial attorneys on international religious freedom conditions in general and country conditions faced by Iraqi religious minorities in particular;
• The Congress and the Administration to provide legal protection in the United States for members of religious minorities who have been ordered removed to Iraq;
• The Department of State to urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to amend urgently its September 2005 Advisory Opinion on Returns to Iraq to account for the treatment of religious minorities in the three Northern governorates as well as the rest of the country; and
• The United States to redouble its efforts with the Iraqi authorities and the international community to stem the flight of members of ancient religious minorities from Iraq by promoting the protection and integration of these communities within Iraq.

The text of the letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Richard L. Greene follows:

Dear Acting Assistant Secretary Greene:

I am writing on behalf of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to express our concern about the recent Advisory Opinion on Iraq issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Commission is concerned that errors of omission in the UNHCR September 2005 Advisory opinion on Iraq could inadvertently lead to refoulement. The Advisory should be corrected without delay. We ask that you, as the primary interlocutor with UNHCR, intervene.

Specifically, the September 2004 UNHCR Advisory Opinion on Iraq explicitly advised against returning rejected asylum seekers to Iraq and twice addressed particular problems faced by religious minorities there. In contrast, the September 2005 Advisory takes a differentiated regional approach. Thus, the 2005 Advisory concludes that - while the security situation in most parts of Iraq has continued to deteriorate - returns to the three Northern Governorates of Iraq may be facilitated, but only for returnees who have community or family links to the region. Others, UNHCR warned, would face serious protection and integration concerns. Unlike the 2004 Advisory, the recent Advisory makes no mention whatsoever of religious minorities.

The new UNHCR Advisory fails to address reports that religious minority communities native to Northern Iraq - particularly the Chaldo-Assyrian villages - continue to face similar "substantial obstacles" to protection and integration which UNHCR states would confront Iraqis who are not native to the region.

The Commission is concerned that adjudicators in the United States and elsewhere may rely on the September 2005 Advisory Opinion and reject asylum claims from members of religious minorities who have fled Northern Iraq. We respectfully request that the State Department ask UNHCR to reissue the opinion and specifically address protection and integration problems faced by religious minorities in Iraq - particularly within the three Northern Governorates.

Asylum and refugee adjudicators throughout the world often look to the expertise of UNHCR when considering asylum claims. Consequently, the integrity of the information contained in UNHCR Advisory Opinions is of paramount importance, as it may mean the difference between an individual being granted asylum, or being returned to a country where he or she will face persecution.

For your reference, we are attaching a copy of the 2004 and 2005 UNHCR Advisory Opinions on Iraq, as well as recent articles reporting on problems faced by religious minorities there.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael Cromartie
Chair

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2005

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - As part of its ongoing work with U.S. policymakers and others involved in Iraq's political transition, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its analysis of human rights provisions from Iraq's final draft permanent constitution, which is scheduled to be voted upon by the Iraqi people in a referendum on October 15, 2005. Iraq's final draft constitution incorporates positive provisions related to human rights protections and makes significant improvements over previous drafts. The Commission, however, finds that several provisions remain cause for concern. While the number of judges on the Federal Supreme Court and their mode of appointmentwill be established by a two-thirds vote of the members of Iraq's Council of Representatives, the constitution allows for the appointment to Iraq's highest court of experts in Islamic jurisprudence who may not have any training in civil law or other relevant subjects.

"This provision in the draft increases the possibility of a court in which restrictions in the name of Islamic law will be permitted to limit fundamental freedoms, including the right of every Iraqi as an individual to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief," said USCIRF Chair Michael Cromartie.

Similar constitutional provisions allowing for the appointment of Islamic experts to the Supreme Court are found in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan. Appointing judges whose sole expertise is Islamic law to the Court threatens the constitution's human right protections, in turn threatening the fundamental rights of individual Muslims, members of religious minorities, non-religious individuals, and women, to dissent from state imposed religious orthodoxies.

The Commission recommends that the U.S. government urge Iraq's Council of Representatives, after it is elected, to ensure that any enabling legislation concerning the appointment criteria for judges to the Federal Supreme Court not be based solely on an individual's training in Islamic jurisprudence, but rather should require, at a minimum, that all judges have adequate training in civil law.

"Given the short amount of time left to educate Iraqi voters on the content of the draft constitution, much will depend upon the composition of Iraq's next government and assembly, and the direction these bodies will take with respect to implementing legislation, particularly with regard to the formation of Iraq's Federal Supreme Court. The United States and the international community therefore should launch an education campaign so that the Iraqi electorate will be better able to understand their rights and ascertain how political parties intend to reconcile the principles of Islam with Iraq's international human rights obligations," Cromartie noted.

USCIRF has stressed repeatedly that the successful restoration of freedoms and building of democracy in Iraq would require, at a minimum, the inclusion of guarantees for every Iraqi of the right to freedom of religion or belief and other related human rights in Iraq's permanent constitution, in accordance with international standards which Iraq has pledged to uphold. According to a recent USCIRF study, Islam can coexist with guarantees protecting freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. The Commission continues to stress that this fact must form the centerpiece of U.S. and international engagement on Iraq's political transition, including its permanent constitution.

The Commission's analysis calls particular attention to the following provisions in the constitution:

Article 2
First: Islam is the official religion of the State and it is a fundamental source of legislation:
A.No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established.
B.No law that contradicts the principles of democracy may be established.
C.No law that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms stipulated in this constitution may be established.


Second:This Constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice such as Christians, Yazedis, and Mandi Sabeans.

• The Commission remains concerned that the constitutional arrangement establishing a role for Islam as a fundamental source of legislation, as in the case of Iraq's Transitional Administrative Law, may be used by judges to abridge international human rights standards, particularly with respect to the rights of political and social reformers, those voicing criticism of prevailing policies, religious minorities, women, and others. This concern is amplified by the fact that the draft constitution currently allows for the appointment of "experts in Islamic jurisprudence" to the Supreme Federal Court, which will be the highest judicial body charged with interpreting the constitution.

Article 89
...

Second: The Federal Supreme Court shall be made up of number of judges, and experts in Islamic jurisprudence and law experts whose number, the method of their selection and the work of the court shall be determined by a law enacted by a two third majority of the members of the Council of Representatives.

• This article enables the appointment of experts in Islamic jurisprudence to Iraq's highest court, the Federal Supreme Court. According to the draft, these experts are not required to have any traditional civil law training. Opening the Court to individuals whose only background is in religious law will place Iraq's highest court in the company of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan-some of the only countries in the world to allow individuals without traditional legal training to serve as judges in matters pertaining to civil law.

Article 39
Iraqis are free in their commitment to their personal status according to their religions, sects, beliefs, or choices and that shall be regulated by law.

• The provision does not specify what system of law- religious or civil-will apply, or how or by whom the alternate system may be invoked.
• The Commission recommends that any enabling legislation explicitly establish that civil law will apply to personal status matters, unless the full and informed consent of both parties is obtained before submitting the dispute to a religious court, and finally, make religious court rulings subject to final review by Iraq's civil courts. The use of religious courts may lead to rulings that are in violation of Iraq's international obligations with respect to the prohibition of religious coercion, or discrimination on the grounds of religion, gender, or social status.

Article 100
The High Commission for Human Rights, Independent Electoral High Commission and Commission on Public Integrity are independent commissions, which shall be subject to monitoring by the Council of Representatives. A law shall regulate their functions.

• Provides for a High Commission for Human Rights but subject to monitoring by the Iraqi parliament, and without any specific reference to the UN's Paris Principles as the basis for the High Commission's mandate and independence.

Copies of the analysis prepared by the Commission are available for download from the Commission's website, http://www.uscirf.gov .

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2005

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - As part of its ongoing work with U.S. policymakers and others involved in Iraq's political transition, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its analysis of human rights provisions from Iraq's final draft permanent constitution, which is scheduled to be voted upon by the Iraqi people in a referendum on October 15, 2005. Iraq's final draft constitution incorporates positive provisions related to human rights protections and makes significant improvements over previous drafts. The Commission, however, finds that several provisions remain cause for concern. While the number of judges on the Federal Supreme Court and their mode of appointmentwill be established by a two-thirds vote of the members of Iraq's Council of Representatives, the constitution allows for the appointment to Iraq's highest court of experts in Islamic jurisprudence who may not have any training in civil law or other relevant subjects.

"This provision in the draft increases the possibility of a court in which restrictions in the name of Islamic law will be permitted to limit fundamental freedoms, including the right of every Iraqi as an individual to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief," said USCIRF Chair Michael Cromartie.

Similar constitutional provisions allowing for the appointment of Islamic experts to the Supreme Court are found in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan. Appointing judges whose sole expertise is Islamic law to the Court threatens the constitution's human right protections, in turn threatening the fundamental rights of individual Muslims, members of religious minorities, non-religious individuals, and women, to dissent from state imposed religious orthodoxies.

The Commission recommends that the U.S. government urge Iraq's Council of Representatives, after it is elected, to ensure that any enabling legislation concerning the appointment criteria for judges to the Federal Supreme Court not be based solely on an individual's training in Islamic jurisprudence, but rather should require, at a minimum, that all judges have adequate training in civil law.

"Given the short amount of time left to educate Iraqi voters on the content of the draft constitution, much will depend upon the composition of Iraq's next government and assembly, and the direction these bodies will take with respect to implementing legislation, particularly with regard to the formation of Iraq's Federal Supreme Court. The United States and the international community therefore should launch an education campaign so that the Iraqi electorate will be better able to understand their rights and ascertain how political parties intend to reconcile the principles of Islam with Iraq's international human rights obligations," Cromartie noted.

USCIRF has stressed repeatedly that the successful restoration of freedoms and building of democracy in Iraq would require, at a minimum, the inclusion of guarantees for every Iraqi of the right to freedom of religion or belief and other related human rights in Iraq's permanent constitution, in accordance with international standards which Iraq has pledged to uphold. According to a recent USCIRF study, Islam can coexist with guarantees protecting freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. The Commission continues to stress that this fact must form the centerpiece of U.S. and international engagement on Iraq's political transition, including its permanent constitution.

The Commission's analysis calls particular attention to the following provisions in the constitution:

Article 2
First: Islam is the official religion of the State and it is a fundamental source of legislation:
A.No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established.
B.No law that contradicts the principles of democracy may be established.
C.No law that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms stipulated in this constitution may be established.


Second:This Constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice such as Christians, Yazedis, and Mandi Sabeans.

• The Commission remains concerned that the constitutional arrangement establishing a role for Islam as a fundamental source of legislation, as in the case of Iraq's Transitional Administrative Law, may be used by judges to abridge international human rights standards, particularly with respect to the rights of political and social reformers, those voicing criticism of prevailing policies, religious minorities, women, and others. This concern is amplified by the fact that the draft constitution currently allows for the appointment of "experts in Islamic jurisprudence" to the Supreme Federal Court, which will be the highest judicial body charged with interpreting the constitution.

Article 89
...

Second: The Federal Supreme Court shall be made up of number of judges, and experts in Islamic jurisprudence and law experts whose number, the method of their selection and the work of the court shall be determined by a law enacted by a two third majority of the members of the Council of Representatives.

• This article enables the appointment of experts in Islamic jurisprudence to Iraq's highest court, the Federal Supreme Court. According to the draft, these experts are not required to have any traditional civil law training. Opening the Court to individuals whose only background is in religious law will place Iraq's highest court in the company of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan-some of the only countries in the world to allow individuals without traditional legal training to serve as judges in matters pertaining to civil law.

Article 39
Iraqis are free in their commitment to their personal status according to their religions, sects, beliefs, or choices and that shall be regulated by law.

• The provision does not specify what system of law- religious or civil-will apply, or how or by whom the alternate system may be invoked.
• The Commission recommends that any enabling legislation explicitly establish that civil law will apply to personal status matters, unless the full and informed consent of both parties is obtained before submitting the dispute to a religious court, and finally, make religious court rulings subject to final review by Iraq's civil courts. The use of religious courts may lead to rulings that are in violation of Iraq's international obligations with respect to the prohibition of religious coercion, or discrimination on the grounds of religion, gender, or social status.

Article 100
The High Commission for Human Rights, Independent Electoral High Commission and Commission on Public Integrity are independent commissions, which shall be subject to monitoring by the Council of Representatives. A law shall regulate their functions.

• Provides for a High Commission for Human Rights but subject to monitoring by the Iraqi parliament, and without any specific reference to the UN's Paris Principles as the basis for the High Commission's mandate and independence.

Copies of the analysis prepared by the Commission are available for download from the Commission's website, http://www.uscirf.gov .

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.