Jul 25, 2024
The French government has prohibited French athletes from wearing religious garb while competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. As such, French athletes who wish to wear religious garb are forced to choose between adhering to their sincerely held religious beliefs and competing at the highest level of sport. This tight regulation of religious expression is not unusual in France, where the government has enacted similarly strict restrictions on wearing religious garb in public spaces. France has also seen a proliferation of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, as well as governmental anti-cult efforts negatively impacting religious organizations.
On today’s episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, Supervisory Policy Analyst Scott Weiner and Researcher Luke Wilson discuss the French government’s worrying restrictions on wearing religious garb in the public sphere.
Additional Name(s): Neda Fotoohi
Gender: Female
Current Location: Evin Prison
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Erfan-e Halgheh Practitioner
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years and 8 Months’ Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October//2023
Date of Sentencing: July/13/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Association Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Neda Fotouhi
Extra Bio Info:
Neda Fotouhi is imprisoned for her membership in a religious organization and activism.
In October 2023, Iranian security forces arrested Fotouhi, an Iranian follower of Erfan-e-Halgheh, at a private residence for participating at protests marking the one-year anniversary of the killing of Mahsa Amini. She was immediately taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran where a case against her was built on forced confessions obtained under torture.
After her arrest, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Fotouhi to 3 years and 8 months of imprisonment for "assembly and collusion against the internal and external security of the country" for participating in protests and 3 years for "propaganda against the government through membership in the Erfan-e-Halgheh group," totaling 6 years and 8 months.
After multiple requests for a retrial were rejected, on July 13, 2024, Judge Abbasali Houzan of Branch 66 of the Tehran Court of Appeals formally sentenced Fotouhi.
Fotouhi a former lecturer at Allameh Tabataba'i University and a resident of Tehran.
Sources:
- Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- “Report on the Latest Status of Neda Fotoohi in Evin Prison” Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- “Iranian Judiciary Sentences Follower of Erfan-e-Halgheh to 6 Years and 8 Months of Imprisonment in Tehran” Hegnaw Organization for Human Rights
Jul 16, 2024
USCIRF Welcomes Senator Mitch McConnell’s Appointment of Meir Soloveichik to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Washington, DC – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced on July 10, 2024 the appointment of Meir Soloveichik to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
“We are thrilled to welcome Meir Soloveichik’s appointment to the Commission,” stated USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck. “The experience he brings to USCIRF will be instrumental in continuing the promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad.”
Meir Soloveichik serves as the rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Manhattan, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. He is also director of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. Soloveichik has a strong background in academia and has lectured internationally to diverse audiences on topics relating to faith in America, the Hebraic roots of the American founding, Jewish theology, Jewish-Christian relations, and more. Soloveichik attended Yeshiva University where he received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He received his PhD in religion from Princeton University and is a Senior Scholar at Tikvah, a think tank and educational institution in New York City. In 2018, Soloveichik was awarded the Canterbury Medal for his work on behalf of religious liberty by the Becket Fund.
“Meir Soloveichik brings a wealth of knowledge on religious freedom issues that will benefit the Commission greatly,” USCIRF Vice Chair Eric Ueland added. “We look forward to working with him to further advance USCIRF’s mandate.”
USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.
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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].