Sep 14, 2023

USCIRF Releases Updated Blasphemy Factsheet and Blasphemy Law Compendium

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released two new reports:

Legislation Factsheet on Blasphemy – This report lists the 95 countries with legislation criminalizing expressions insulting or offending religious feelings, figures, or symbols. It also explains how that legislation is inconsistent with international human rights law’s protections for the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Blasphemy Law Compendium – The compendium is a comprehensive resource that documents the text of the 95 national level blasphemy laws.

Despite blasphemy laws’ inconsistency with international human rights law, they are often defended as a means to achieve peace and religious harmony in society. However, in practice, blasphemy laws are used to promote government intolerance and discrimination against religious minorities and minority viewpoints. They also encourage individuals and non-state actors to seek retribution against alleged blasphemers.

These two publications build upon USCIRF’s 2020 reports Legislation Factsheet: Blasphemy and Violating Rights: Enforcing the World’s Blasphemy Laws. USCIRF has also issued publications on the blasphemy laws in Turkey, Nigeria, Pakistan, and ASEAN Member Countries, along with a report on apostasy, blasphemy, and hate speech laws in Africa.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

Additional Name(s): Балабкин Владимир Моисеевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Health Concerns: Elderly, Cancer

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year's Suspended Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 4 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/13/2023

Date of Sentencing: September/13/2023

Date of Release: December/19/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vladimir Balabkin

Extra Bio Info:

Vladimir Balabkin was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On September 13, 2023, the Belogorsk District Court sentenced Balabkin to four years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC). Authorities had prosecuted Balabkin for holding Jehovah's Witness religious services. Balabkin was taken into custody following the verdict.

On December 19, 2023, the Amur Regional Court reduced Balabkin's sentence to one year of suspended imprisonment after it reclassified his charges to “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC). Balabkin was released from custody following the verdict.

Balabkin is in his seventies and suffers from cancer. 

Balabkin is married, with his wife also suffering from serious medical issues.

Sources:

Sep 20

WHEN:

Sep 20th 9:30am - Sep 20th 11:00am

 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

Advancing Religious Freedom within the U.S. - India Bilateral Relationship

Wednesday, September 20, 2023
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM ET
216 Hart Senate Office Building

Hearing Transcript

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a hearing on religious freedom in India and how the U.S. government can work with the Indian government to address violations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, D.C. reflects the close bilateral relationship between the United States and India. However, over the last decade, the Indian government has enacted and enforced discriminatory policies targeting religious minorities, including anti-conversion laws, cow slaughter laws, legislation granting citizenship preferences based on religion, and restrictions on foreign funding for civil society organizations. Recent trends include the eruption of violence between Hindus and Muslims in Haryana in July and targeted attacks against Christian and Jewish minorities in Manipur, highlighting the need for new strategies to mitigate violence against religious minorities in India.

Since 2020, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Witnesses discussed the Indian government’s legal framework and enforcement of discriminatory policies, explained current religious freedom conditions, and offered policy options for the United States to work with India to combat abuses of religious freedom and related human rights in the country.

Opening Remarks

Panel I

  • Fernand de Varennes, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
    Written Testimony

Panel II

  • Tariq Ahmad, Foreign Law Specialist, Law Library of Congress
    Written Testimony
  • Sarah Yager, Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
    Written Testimony
  • Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights; and representing Dalit Solidarity Forum, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America, Indian American Muslim Council, India Civil Watch International, and New York State Council of Churches
    Written Testimony
  • Irfan Nooruddin, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Professor of Indian Politics, Georgetown University
    Written Testimony

Witness Biographies

Submitted for the Record

Statement from Hindus for Human Rights

Statement from The Sikh Coalition

Statement by John Newton, Aid to the Church in Need International

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The hearing will be livestreamed, and the video recording will be posted on the Commission website. Members of the media can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. For any additional questions, please email Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].

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