FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Newly proposed legal changes in Azerbaijan would curtail the religious freedom of the country's Muslim community, said the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today. Recent restrictive amendments to Azerbaijan's religion law went into effect on May 31 (see Commission press release issued on May 19, 2009, "Pending Amendments in Azerbaijan Concern USCIRF.”) On June 30, Azerbaijan's parliament will consider two additional amendments to the same religion law. These proposals would restrict the conduct of Islamic rituals to Azerbaijani citizens who received Islamic education in Azerbaijan. They also would require that those who lead such rituals receive prior government approval.

"Azerbaijan would be moving even further in the wrong direction with regard to religious freedom if these additional proposed amendments become law. Criminalizing such actions would but further damage Azerbaijan"s reputation regarding its adherence to international standards on the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief,” said Michael Cromartie, USCIRF vice co-chair. "The Commission urges Azerbaijan to reject these amendments promptly and to reconsider its recently adopted amendments to the religion law.”

Senior officials from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party of President Ilham Aliev have backed the proposed changes, according to the non-governmental organization Forum 18. Deputy Ali Huseynov, the parliamentary deputy who chairs the Milli Mejlis Legal Policy and State Building Committee, reportedly told the local APA news agency that the proposed amendments would also add some new penalties to the Code of Administrative Offences, but he did not specify if they would apply to those who violate the proposed new provisions of the Religion Law.

The proposed amendments to the NGO Law would ban the activity of unregistered NGOs, including several religious rights groups, such as Devamm, a Muslim rights organization, and the Azerbaijan branch of the International Religious Liberty Association.

The new amendments to the religion law are scheduled to be considered during the same parliamentary session as proposed amendments to the Media Law, the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Law, the Grants Law, the State Fees Law, and the Code of Administrative Offences.

Reportedly, the government of Azerbaijan has not requested reviews of the amendments to the religion law from expert legal groups within the Council of Europe or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), although the country is a member of both organizations.

Azerbaijan"s current religion law prohibits mosques which operate outside the state-sponsored Caucasus Muslim Board. In recent months, two mosques were demolished and several others were closed by government order, according to Forum 18. Furthermore, the Azeri government"s "temporary” ban on praying outside mosques and prohibitions on the reopening of some Georgian Orthodox and Baptist churches, issued in August 2008, are still in effect.

"As in the case of many countries, the Azeri government does face challenges in addressing extremism that claims a religious linkage, while also protecting freedom of religion or belief. However, overly repressive laws that would affect many peaceful Muslims risk the very result that is sought to be avoided-exacerbating radicalism,” said Mr. Cromartie.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected], or (202) 523-3257.

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2009

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned Saturday"s arrest of Le Cong Dinh, a prominent lawyer who defended clients in high profile human rights cases, including prominent religious freedom defenders Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan.

"The arrest of Le Cong Dinh demonstrates a disturbing but familiar pattern,” said Michael Cromartie, USCIRF vice chair, who recently led a USCIRF delegation to Vietnam. "Peaceful advocates for religious freedom and related human rights are intimidated, harassed, and jailed. Le Cong Dinh"s arrest demonstrates that no human rights, including the freedom of religion, are secure in Vietnam.”

A USCIRF delegation visited Vietnam in May, meeting with government officials, prominent religious leaders, religious freedom advocates, and prisoners, including Fr. Nguyen Van Ly and Nguyen Van Dai. The latter was defended by Le Cong Dinh. The USCIRF delegation was able to confirm the conclusions found in its May 1, 2009 Annual Report, including continued imprisonment of individuals for peaceful religious activity or religious freedom advocacy, systematic intimidation and discrimination targeting new converts and independent religious activity, and harassment of lawyers and individuals seeking to expand religious freedom.

Le Cong Dinh was arrested under Article 88 of the Vietnamese criminal code for "conducting propaganda” against the state. He is one of a growing number of peaceful human rights defenders who are challenging Vietnam"s vague national security laws and other laws inconsistent with the Vietnamese Constitution and international covenants and human right treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory.

In its Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that Vietnam be re-designated as a "Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for severe and egregious restrictions on the freedom of religion. Recently, the House of Representatives passed HR 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which includes language urging the State Department to designate Vietnam as a CPC. However, the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam recently reiterated the State Department"s longstanding position that Vietnam does not meet the criteria to be designated a CPC.

USCIRF"s annual report detailed the imprisonment of Le Cong Dinh, Nguyen Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, Fr. Nguyen Van Ly, the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do, and dozens of other Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Catholic, and Montagnard Protestants currently jailed in Vietnam. It urged the State Department and the international community to press for their immediate and unconditional release.

"The Commission has consistently found that systematic and egregious abuses of religious freedom continue in Vietnam,” said Felice Gaer, USCIRF chair. "The CPC designation is an important and flexible diplomatic tool, used previously to bring about some tangible results in Vietnam without hindering other bilateral interests. We urge the Obama Administration to establish clear policies and use all available diplomatic tools to support the hopes and aspirations of the Vietnamese people for both greater freedom and prosperity.”

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected] or (202) 523-3257.