FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USCIRF Releases New Report about Attacks against Houses of Worship and Religious Leaders in Burkina Faso

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on attacks against houses of worship and religious leaders in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso Factsheet– In the context of the upcoming presidential election in Burkina Faso scheduled for November 22, 2020, this factsheet details the drivers of and responses to attacks against religious institutions in Burkina Faso in recent years, including threats to houses of worship, religious ceremonies, and faith community leaders. Burkina Faso was long viewed as a bastion of religious tolerance and interfaith harmony in west Africa. Yet, in recent years religious freedom conditions in Burkina Faso have worsened, with the country facing interrelated security and humanitarian crises. Attacks on both Muslim and Christian houses of worship and religious leaders have spiked as jihadist and other militia groups have expanded their area of influence throughout the country. The government has struggled to rein in the violence and bring about accountability to perpetrators, and poor performance and misconduct by government affiliated forces are exacerbating the situation.

In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF raised concern regarding the global spike on attacks targeting places of worships and holy sites. In October 2019, USCIRF held a hearing on Protecting Houses of Worship and Holy Sites to consider how the international community can better work together to stem the global violent targeting of houses of worship. USCIRF continues to recommend that the U.S. government expand programs to train and equip local officials and communities to protect places of worship and other holy sites, especially in countries where such sites face a high risk of attacks, such as Burkina Faso.

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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].

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

USCIRF Releases Factsheet on Rohingya Refugees in Southeast Asia

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a new report on Rohingya refugees who have escaped persecution in Burma:

Rohingya Refugees Factsheet – This factsheet highlights the conditions of Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia. While the majority of Rohingya refugees have fled from Burma to Bangladesh, a significant number have escaped to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Some Rohingya refugees have managed to successfully settle in Southeast Asia, but others have faced discrimination or other religious freedom violations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in the region have been less willing to admit boats with Rohingya refugees. This factsheet also explores the role of regional and international actors in addressing flows of refugees within Southeast Asia.

In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Burma as a ‘country of particular concern’ in large part because of its ethnic and religious violence against Rohingya Muslims. USCIRF has also recommended the State Department include Malaysia and Indonesia on its Special Watch List.

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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].

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2020

USCIRF Releases Ritual Slaughter Factsheet Highlighting Range of Restrictions across Europe

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on ritual slaughter laws and the range of restrictions across Europe:

Ritual Slaughter Factsheet – This factsheet shows the spectrum of restrictions on ritual slaughter in Europe, and provides information on the impact that such regulations have on religious freedom in select countries. Pursuant to international human rights law, religious freedom extends to the observance and practice of religion or beliefs, including dietary regulations. European Union laws and regulations require stunning before slaughter to protect this right, but countries are authorized to make their own regulations concerning “slaughtering in accordance with religious rituals.” While a majority of European countries either have no restrictions on ritual slaughter or offer exemptions to religious groups whose dietary laws mandate that animals are uninjured (unstunned) prior to killing, nearly a third of European countries limit the practice, causing individuals to abandon deeply held religious practices and imply a message of exclusion to all those who seek to follow their religion’s dietary 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 Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].