Oct 7, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2020

USCIRF Releases Ritual Slaughter Factsheet Highlighting Range of Restrictions across Europe

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on ritual slaughter laws and the range of restrictions across Europe:

Ritual Slaughter Factsheet – This factsheet shows the spectrum of restrictions on ritual slaughter in Europe, and provides information on the impact that such regulations have on religious freedom in select countries. Pursuant to international human rights law, religious freedom extends to the observance and practice of religion or beliefs, including dietary regulations. European Union laws and regulations require stunning before slaughter to protect this right, but countries are authorized to make their own regulations concerning “slaughtering in accordance with religious rituals.” While a majority of European countries either have no restrictions on ritual slaughter or offer exemptions to religious groups whose dietary laws mandate that animals are uninjured (unstunned) prior to killing, nearly a third of European countries limit the practice, causing individuals to abandon deeply held religious practices and imply a message of exclusion to all those who seek to follow their religion’s dietary laws.

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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 threats to 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 and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].

Gender: Male

Current Location: Xuan Phuoc Prison, Phu Yen

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Jarai

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 9 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April//2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Subversion

Y Min Ksor

Extra Bio Info:

Y Min Ksor is imprisoned for his religious activity. 

In April 2018, authorities arrested Ksor, a member of the unregistered Good News Missionary Church, during a police raid on a house church service. Authorities accused him of spreading false information about Vietnam's violations of minority rights and religious freedom in order to convince people to join efforts to establish an independent state. Ksor was reportedly tortured during his interrogation and forced to sign an agreement to stop worshiping with his church. 

Authorities sentenced Ksor to 9 years' imprisonment and three to five years' probation for "undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC).

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Ede

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 14 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April/10/2018

Date of Sentencing: January/31/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Subversion

Y Pum Bya

Extra Bio Info:

Y Pum Bya is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On April 10, 2018, Vietnamese authorities arrested Y Pum Bya, a church leader, after accusing him of spreading false information about Vietnam's violations of minority rights and religious freedom in order to convince people to join efforts to establish an independent state. While at the Ea Drong Commune police station, he was allegedly interrogated about his religious activities, tortured, and forced to sign commitments to stop worshipping in a group while belonging to the Gospel Missionary Church. Prior to this most recent arrest, authorities threatened Y Pum Bya with arrest for his religious activities. On March 15, 2017, Y Pum Bya requested permission to register unregistered religious activities in Ea Drong Commune; however, authorities quickly rejected that request and police threatened him with arrest and imprisonment if he continued to engage in his religious activities.

On January 31, 2019, Y Pum Bya was sentenced to 14 years in prison and four years’ probation for “undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC). He is currently imprisoned at Gia Trung Prison in Gia Lai Province.

Y Pum Bya was arrested and imprisoned previously for his religious activity. On February 28, 2002, Vietnamese authorities arrested Y Pum Bya after he requested authorization for unregistered house-churches to conduct religious activities. On December 25, 2002, Y Pum Bya was sentenced to eight years in prison and four years’ probation for “undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC).

Y Pum Bya is married with children.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) advocates for Y Pum Bya as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

Publicly Available Information:
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