Feb 11

WHEN:

Feb 11th 10:30am

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Briefing

Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security:
New Policy Guidance from the OSCE

Tuesday, February 11, 2020
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Senate Visitors Center (SVC) 203-02

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a briefing on the nexus of freedom of religion or belief and security, including findings from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights’ (ODIHR) recent publication, Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: Policy Guidance.

In the OSCE region, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is violated by some governments who use the pretext of national security to justify repression. For example, in Russia’s Tatarstan region, cameras are installed in mosques to transmit videos of worshippers during their prayers to state security services. In Uzbekistan, thousands of religious prisoners remain incarcerated for “extremism” or the possession of “extremist” religious literature. In Azerbaijan, authorities continue to deny legal registration to Baptists and Jehovah’s Witnesses residing outside the capital. Although these actions aim to improve security, failure to balance security with freedom of religion or belief can actually undermine it.

Freedom of Religion or Belief: Policy Guidance clarifies the interrelationship between FoRB and security as mutually reinforcing objectives, in line with the OSCE’s comprehensive framework for peace and security. The document includes guiding principles, practical guidance, and recommendations to address pertinent issues at the intersection of the freedom of religion and security, including the registration of religious communities, religious literature deemed “extremist”, the monitoring of places of worship, and restrictions on conversion.

Panelists will present the policy guidance document, discuss its findings and recommendations, further explore the intersection of security and FoRB, and consider tools and strategies for governments and other relevant stakeholders to advance both objectives simultaneously. There will be an interactive question and answer period with audience members after the panelist presentations.

Remarks

Panelists

  • Kishan Manocha, Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion or Belief, OSCE/ODIHR
  • Douglas Padgett, U.S. Department of State, Office of International Religious Freedom
  • Elizabeth Clark, Professor of Law, Brigham Young University School of Law

 

         

 

This briefing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. RSVP is required. Please RSVP to [email protected] by Friday, February 7. For any questions please contact Jamie Staley at [email protected] or 202-786-0606.

732 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW SUITE A714 | WASHINGTON, DC 20401 | (202) 523-3240

 

Tony Perkins, Chair · Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair · Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair 
Gary Bauer · Anurima Bhargava · James W. Carr · Tenzin Dorjee
Sharon Kleinbaum · Johnnie Moore

Erin D. Singshinsuk, Executive Director

www.uscirf.gov

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.

 

 

Gender: Female

Current Location: No. 1 Women’s Prison, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Han

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/8/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Cult

Wu Meixia

Extra Bio Info:

Wu Meixia is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On November 8, 2017, officers from the Wuhai Public Security Bureau detained Wu reportedly in relation to her religious belief, organizing of worship gatherings, and distributing religious materials.

On an unspecified date, the Wuda District People’s Court in Wuhai city sentenced Wu to eight years in prison and fined her 2,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

On an unspecified date, the Wuhai Intermediate People’s Court rejected Wu's appeal.

Wu was sent to No. 1 Women’s Prison of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to serve her sentence. 

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: China

Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/29/2018

Date of Sentencing: September/4/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Cult

Huang Qiuxiang

Extra Bio Info:

Huang Qiuxiang is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.

On November 29, 2018, police from the Yining City Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang detained Huang reportedly in relation to her religious leadership role and efforts to organize gatherings and evangelizing activities.

On September 4, 2019, the Kuitun People’s Court in Xinjiang sentenced Huang to seven years in prison and fined her 40,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).

Publicly Available Information:
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