Sep 26, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2019
USCIRF Urges U.S. Policymakers to Remain Engaged on Religious Freedom in Turkey
Calls on Turkish Government to Cease Interference in Religious Elections
WASHINGTON, DC – Turkish authorities have issued guidelines for the election of a new patriarch for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The guidelines reportedly include a new condition that would preclude clerics serving outside of Turkey from participating in the election and severely restrict the number of individuals eligible to stand for election. The election for patriarch is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2019.
In response, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Tony Perkins said, “The Turkish government has increasingly interfered in the internal affairs of religious communities by placing gratuitous conditions on electoral processes for religious leaders.” Perkins urged U.S. policymakers to raise the importance of this election with the Turkish government.
“This latest interference is just one of many that has deprived the Armenian Apostolic Church of its right to choose its spiritual leadership for almost a decade,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin.
On June 27, 2019, USCIRF held a hearing on the Turkish government’s interference in religious freedom. Witnesses at the hearing— including former religious prisoner of conscience Pastor Andrew Brunson, Cato Institute senior fellow Mustafa Akyol, Johns Hopkins professor Lisel Hintz, and former Turkish Parliament member Aykan Erdemir—testified to the need for elections free of government interference. They also offered analysis and policy recommendations related to anti-Semitic hate speech, the legal recognition of Alevis and their houses of worship, increased fear among Christian and other religious minority communities, religious property seizures, and the impact of the Turkish government’s foreign policy on religious minorities.
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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 Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Ethnic Group: Armenian
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September/4/2015
Date of Sentencing: February/19/2016
Date of Release: February/5/2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism Theft & Robbery Treason & Sedition
Aramais Avakian
Extra Bio Info:
Aramais Avakian was imprisoned in relation to his religious identity.
On September 4, 2015, authorities arrested Avakian, a Christian fish farmer, after being accusing him of being an Islamic extremist and being sympathetic to the Islamic State group. Authorities informed Avakian's family, who had no knowledge of his whereabouts, of his detention more than a month later. His family claims Avakian was targeted by local authorities as a means to seize his profitable fish farm.
Local and international human rights organizations have stated that Avakian was subjected to torture in attempts to extract a confession.
On February 19, 2016, the Dzhizakh Regional Criminal Court sentenced Avakian to seven years in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC), sabotage (Art. 161 UCC), theft (Art. 169 UCC), and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
In May 2018, Avakian was relocated to a less strict prison facility in his home region of Jizzakh.
On February 5, 2020, Avakian was released.
Publicly Available Information:
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2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Uzbekistan U.S. Department of State
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"Uzbekistan Transfers 'Islamic Extremist' To Less-Strict Facility" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
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"Uzbekistan: Fish farmer tortured, jailed after unfair trial: Aramais Avakian" Amnesty International
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"From Raising Carp To 'Islamist Extremist' In Uzbekistan" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Tajikistan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April/10/2017
Date of Sentencing: July//2017
Date of Release: December/17/2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech
Bakhrom Kholmatov
Extra Bio Info:
Bakhrom Kholmatov was imprisoned for his religious activity.
On April 10, 2017, authorities Kholmatov, pastor of the Sonmin Sonbogym (Full Gospel) Protestant Church, following a raid on his church. Kholmatov's arrest was reportedly related to songs being sung in church.
In July 2017, Kholmatov was sentenced to three years in prison for "inciting national, racial, local or religious hatred" (Art. 189-1 TCC).
On December 17, 2019, Kholmatov was released.
Kholmatov is married with three children.