FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2019


USCIRF Commissioners Travel to Iraq to Support Justice for Yazidi Genocide Survivors


WASHINGTON, DC – Ahead of tomorrow’s fifth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Vice Chair Nadine Maenza and Commissioner Anurima Bhargava traveled to Baghdad, Iraq to stand with survivors at a Yazda event commemorating the thousands who experienced unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Religious leaders, U.S. and other foreign dignitaries, and Iraqi government officials joined them in remembering the victims and mourning alongside those who continue to deal with the trauma of witnessing the slaughter of family members, widespread sexual assault and the enslavement of women and children—many of whom remain missing today.

In her remarks before the commemoration attendees, Maenza said, “We have not forgotten the cruelties and tragedies that Yazidis have suffered in the past, nor have we forgotten the fear, the continuing displacement and the pain of the genocide that remain with them today. We call on our Iraqi partners – the Federal and Kurdistan Regional Government officials, armed forces, and religious leaders—to do everything possible to alleviate the Yazidi community’s most urgent needs.”

Maenza and Bhargava urged the Iraqi government to provide safe and free movement for displaced Yazidi families to travel between the camps; to achieve for the Yazidis justice that reflects the violence and trauma that their community experienced; and to facilitate distribution of U.S. and other international aid to Yazidis and minority communities hardest hit by religious intolerance in Iraq.

“It is time for families driven out by persecution and violence to return home and resume their rightful and central place in the rich fabric of Iraq’s economic, political and social life,” said Bhargava. “The Yazidi community must be accorded justice and compensation in a manner that upholds their dignity, respects their religious identity and promotes peace.”

USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins added, “The entire Commission continues to stand with the Yazidi community and will continue to advocate on their behalf until they are able to safely return to their communities, freely practicing their faith.”

In its 2019 Annual report, USCIRF listed Iraq as a Tier 2 Country for engaging in or tolerating violations of religious freedom that meet at least one of the elements of “systematic, ongoing, egregious” standard for designation as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.

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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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2019
 

USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza Calls for Release of Imprisoned Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi

His Continued Imprisonment Belies Saudi Government Claims of Greater Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC – Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), today called on Saudi authorities to drop all charges against and release religious prisoner of conscience Raif Badawi. Mr. Badawi was first arrested in June 2012. Six years ago this week, in July 2013, a Saudi court sentenced Mr. Badawi to 600 lashes and seven years in prison for insulting Islam and breaking the anti-cybercrime law through his website Free Saudi Liberals. In May 2014, the sentenced was increased to 1,000 lashes, ten years in prison, and a fine of one million riyal.

“Saudi Arabia’s persecution of Raif Badawi for peacefully expressing his beliefs is an egregious violation of his religious freedom,” said Vice Chair Maenza, who adopted Raif Badawi in 2018 as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project. “For seven years, the Saudi government has kept Raif away from his spouse and children. His public lashing and prolonged detention for peaceful speech directly contradict the Saudi government’s official narrative of working toward greater modernization and improving religious freedom conditions.”

Raif Badawi is a blogger and human rights activist for whom USCIRF has advocated for years, including in its 2019 Saudi Annual Report chapter. During the 2019 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, Vice President Michael R. Pence called for Raif Badawi’s release. However, the State Department maintains a waiver for Saudi Arabia, rather than imposing the sanctions to which it would otherwise be subject as a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.  

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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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2019

USCIRF Statement on Introduction of House Resolution 512 on Blasphemy

WASHINGTON, DC - In response to the introduction this week by Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) and Mark Meadows (R-NC-11) of House Resolution 512 on blasphemy, heresy and apostasy laws, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Tony Perkins and Vice Chair Gayle Manchin issued the following statements:

“We applaud Representatives Raskin and Meadows for advocating for the repeal of these laws, which still exist in at least 70 countries around the world. Blasphemy laws, as is noted in the resolution, lead to religious intolerance, discrimination and violence. Charges can be based on false accusations and are often brought for sectarian or political purposes,” said Perkins. “Such laws are weaponized to target marginalized religious communities.”

“Widespread bipartisan support for this resolution will help to raise awareness of the egregious acts of persecution and violence that these laws legitimize.  We echo the resolution’s call for all prisoners held on blasphemy, heresy, or apostasy charges to be released,” said Manchin.  

USCIRF currently includes in its Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project several individuals who have been imprisoned on blasphemy or other similar charges. The Commission issued a Legislation Factsheet on Blasphemy and a comprehensive report on blasphemy laws called Respecting Rights? Measuring the World’s Blasphemy 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 Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.