Sep 26
Sep 26th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Religious Freedom in North Korea and North Korean Refugees: Trends and U.S. Policy Options
Thursday, September 26, 2024
10:30 AM-12 PM ET
Virtual
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on religious freedom conditions in North Korea, North Korean refugees, and policy options for the U.S. government.
Religious freedom conditions in North Korea remain abysmal. The regime’s ruling ideology, known as Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, treats religion as an existential threat, resulting in severe punishment for religious adherents, including torture, forced labor, imprisonment, and execution. North Koreans outside the country face transnational repression and forcible return, especially North Korean refugees in China who have engaged in religious activities or come in contact with Christian missionaries, despite the risk of torture or other severe punishments upon return. In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate North Korea as a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom. In July, USCIRF traveled to South Korea (Republic of Korea) to meet with South Korean government officials, human rights activists, religious leaders, North Korean defectors, and other civil society organizations working to promote religious freedom and related human rights in North Korea.
Witnesses discussed religious freedom inside North Korea and the situation for North Korean refugees in South Korea, China, and other countries. They also considered U.S. policy approaches towards North Korea, including the intersection between human rights and national security.
Opening Remarks
- Stephen Schneck, Chair, USCIRF
- Eric Ueland, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Panel I
- Julie Turner, U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, U.S. Department of State
Panel II
- Hanna Song, Executive Director, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB)
Written Testimony - Ethan Shin, Legal Analyst, Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
Written Testimony - Joanna Hosaniak, PhD, Deputy Director General, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR)
Written Testimony - Greg Scarlatoiu, Executive Director, the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK)
Written Testimony
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected]
Sep 16, 2024
USCIRF Calls for International Accountability on Two-Year Anniversary of Mahsa Zhina Amini’s Killing
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today marks the two-year anniversary of Iranian security forces’ killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini for wearing “improper hijab.” Amini’s death on September 16, 2022 sparked nationwide protests in Iran against mandatory hijab laws and other religious freedom abuses. With the recent implementation of its Nour campaign, Iran has ramped up its violent crackdowns on protestors who peacefully call for greater religious freedom in the country.
“The U.S. government should support international efforts to hold the Iranian regime’s leadership accountable for grave violations of religious freedom,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland. “We urge the Biden administration to continue supporting the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran and to support a Security Council referral of the situation in Iran to the International Criminal Court for investigation of crimes against humanity against those asserting freedom of religion or belief.”
“The time is long overdue for Iranian regime officials who repress those seeking freedom of religion or belief to face accountability,” said USCIRF Commissioner Susie Gelman. “The Biden administration should unify a coalition of like-minded countries to impose joint sanctions on Iranian regime officials complicit in restrictions on religious freedom in Iran.”
In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State redesignate Iran a “Country of Particular Concern” for systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.
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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 and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 20 Years’ Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November//2022
Date of Sentencing: June//2024
Date of Release: February//2025
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Insulting Public Officials & Institutions Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism
Assad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi
Extra Bio Info:
Assad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi was sentenced on religious-based charges related to social media activity criticizing the Saudi government, including the authorities’ sidelining of the Saudi religious establishment as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
In November 2022, Saudi security forces arbitrarily detained al-Ghamdi from his home in the Al-Hamdaniya neighborhood of Jeddah. During the arrest, authorities reportedly confiscated electronic devices, computers, and books for al-Ghamdi’s past tweets expressing condolences of a Saudi human rights activist, in addition to the critique of the government.
In June 2024, the Special Criminalized Court sentenced al-Ghamdi to 20 years in prison and placed a travel ban on him on several charges under the Counterterrorism Law for his criticism of the Saudi government. These charges included insulting religion and the King’s justice (Art. 30), endorsing a terrorist ideology (Art. 34), attempting to destabilize the system, and endangering national unity.
In February 2025, Saudi authorities released al-Ghamdi from prison.
Asaad is the brother of Dr. Saeed Nasser al-Ghamdi, a Saudi religious scholar and opposition figure residing in London, and the brother of Mohammed al-Ghamdi, who is imprisoned and has been sentenced to death for expressing support for religious prisoners of conscience. In the course of his detention over the last year and a half, Assad was reportedly subject to torture and medical neglect in multiple detention centers, including Dhahban and Al-Hayer prisons.
Related Cases: Mohammed al-Ghamdi
Publicly Available Information:
"Saudi Arabia: Hosting UN Internet Conference Amid Crackdown" Human Rights Watch
- “Arrest of the teacher Asaad bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi and sentencing him to 20 years in prison due to tweets” SANAD UK
- “Saudi Arabia: 20-Year Sentence for Tweets” Human Rights Watch
- “20-year sentence for Saudi teacher's tweets sparks outcry from opposition” Middle East Monitor