Jun 16, 2022

USCIRF began monitoring religious freedom conditions in Central African Republic (CAR) in 2013 when the country descended into civil conflict. After seven years of recommending that CAR be designated a country of particular concern, in 2020 USCIRF recommended CAR for Special Watchlist status due to improvements in the situation on the ground—and the next year, in 2021, we no longer recommended CAR for even the Special Watchlist. However, religious freedom conditions in CAR deteriorated in 2021, especially for Muslim minorities, causing USCIRF to return CAR to the list of countries it recommends for Special Watchlist status.

John Lechner, an expert in geopolitics and human rights in Africa who recently returned from CAR, joins us today to discuss religious freedom conditions in the country.

Additional Name(s): عبدالله بصفر

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August//2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Abdullah Basfar

Extra Bio Info:

Abdullah Basfar is imprisoned for his religious activity and leadership.

In August 2020, authorities arrested Basfar, an imam, professor, well-known Qur’an reciter, and former Secretary-General of the Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah. Basfar’s arrest came after an old video of him leading prayer in Turkey surfaced, following the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

In October 2022, Saudi authorities sentenced Basfar to 12 years' imprisonment.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عمر المقبل

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Increased to 4 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 6 Months' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Expression

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Omar al-Muqbil

Extra Bio Info:

Omar al-Muqbil is imprisoned for his religious expression and religious freedom advocacy.

In September 2019, authorities arrested al-Muqbil, a cleric, for a sermon criticizing concerts sponsored by the government’s General Entertainment Authority, calling them a threat to the country’s culture.

The Specialized Criminal Court initially sentenced al-Muqbil to 6 months' imprisonment, and in September 2021, the Supreme Court increased his sentence to 4 years' imprisonment.

Authorities refused to release al-Muqbil when his sentence ended in September 2023. 

Publicly Available Information:
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