Dec 26, 2023

USCIRF Denounces Denmark’s Amendment Criminalizing Blasphemy

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by Denmark’s passage of an amendment to its Penal Code criminalizing “inappropriate treatment of a text that has a significant religious importance to a recognized religious community, or an object, that appears to be such a text.” Denmark’s latest blasphemy amendment comes six years after the government in 2017 repealed a more than 100-year-old blasphemy provision in the Danish Penal Code. According to the Danish government, the decision to introduce this provision is the result of an increased “terrorist threat” following a recent string of Qur’an burnings.

USCIRF condemns the burning of religious texts or other objects of religious importance–such as the Qur’an, the Bible, the Torah, the Vedas, and the Tripitaka (Pali Canon)–as deeply uncivil and disrespectful,” said USCIRF Commissioner David Curry. “Criminalizing blasphemy is the wrong approach and not effective in addressing either security concerns or the underlying hatred experienced by religious communities. This amendment will only serve to propagate harmful stereotypes that could worsen the situation of religious minorities in Denmark.”

USCIRF defines blasphemy as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things.” Blasphemy laws punish expressions or acts deemed blasphemous, defamatory of religions, or contemptuous of religion or religious symbols, figures, or feelings. Such laws are inconsistent with human rights law, which protects the rights of individuals, but not religious feelings, figures, or symbols from behavior or speech considered blasphemous.

All too often, governments suppress human rights protected under international law in pursuit of national security concerns,” said USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck. “Denmark, as a democracy, should not compromise fundamental rights to manage such aims. The Danish government must instead work with communities to address religiously-motivated hatred and intolerance, and support freedom of religion or belief.”

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF detailed religious freedom issues in Europe. In July 2023, USCIRF released a report highlighting concerns for freedom of religion or belief in the European Union. In September 2023, USCIRF published a compendium and accompanying factsheet on blasphemy laws around the world.

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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].

Additional Name(s): هاکوپ گوچومیان

Gender: Male

Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Armenian

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Date of Detainment: August/15/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Belief Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Hakop Gochumyan

Extra Bio Info:

Hakop Gochumyan is detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 15, 2023, authorities in Pardis arrested Gochumyan while he and his family were having dinner at a friend's home. Authorities reportedly confiscated religious materials during the arrest. Over the late summer/early fall, authorities had reportedly arrested over a hundred Christians, including Gochumyan, in a sweeping crackdown across the country.

Additional Name(s): Óscar José Escoto Salgado, Óscar Escoto Salgado

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Date of Detainment: December/21/2023

Date of Release: December/24/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Óscar Escoto

Extra Bio Info:

Óscar Escoto was detained for his religious belief and activity and his religious leadership role.

On August 4, 2022, the Nicaraguan police prevented several people, including Escoto, from leaving the residence of Bishop Rolando Álvarez as the bishop was on his way to perform mass at a local cathedral. Álvarez had criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Alvarez, Escoto, and the other individuals in the residence remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated them for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”

On August 19, 2022, Escoto was released from de facto house arrest.

On December 21, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities arrested Escoto, the Vicar of the Diocesis of Matagalpa. 

On December 22, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto. Shortly after his release, Escoto was arrested again.

On December 24, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto.

On January 14, 2024, Escoto was exiled to the Vatican.

Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro TijerinoSadiel EugarriosRaúl Antonio VegaJosé Luis DíazDarvin LeivaMelkin SequeiraSergio Cárdenas