Jan 25, 2021
USCIRF Troubled by Escalating Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Algeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is troubled by reports of escalating repression targeting the Ahmadiyya community in Algeria in recent weeks.
“New convictions and harsh sentences against Ahmadi Muslims in Algeria demonstrate systematic and ongoing persecution on religious grounds,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “The U.S. government should urge the Algerian government to act swiftly to reverse this disturbing trend.”
Over the past several weeks, Algerian courts have tried dozens of members of the Ahmadiyya community for crimes related to the expression of their faith. Charges have included offending the Prophet Mohammad, degrading Islamic principles, and conducting activities without registration even though the government has not granted the Ahmadiyya community official status. Judges in these cases have questioned Ahmadi Muslims about their beliefs, and several Ahmadi Muslims have publicly recanted their faith as a result of the charges. Sentences have included heavy fines and prison sentences of up to three years.
“These unwarranted arrests and detentions are the latest in a long history of Ahmadi persecution in Algeria,” said USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore. “The U.S. government should demonstrate its strong support for the Ahmadi community in Algeria by denouncing these violations.”
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Algeria as a “Special Watch List” for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). In November, USCIRF also hosted a conversation with Commissioners and experts on Religious Freedom in Algeria.
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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].
Additional Name(s): Shirin'ay Tohti, شىرىنئاي توختى
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Uyghur
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Shirinay Tohti
Extra Bio Info:
Shirinay Tohti is detained for her ethnoreligious activity.
In 2017, public security officials in Urumqi municipality, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), detained Tohti, a clothing industry entrepreneur, reportedly for telling family outside of China of the arrest of her sister, Qelbinur Tohti, who was detained in relation to her performance of religious rites at funerals and refusal to comply with official demands to change her three children’s names. Tohti's arrest came amid mass detentions of ethnic minorities in XUAR.
Other members of Tohti's family, including her brother-in-law and another sister have also been subjected to detention.
Publicly Available Information:
- "Shirinay Tohti" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
Additional Name(s): Memet Tursun, مەمەتتۇرسۇن ئىسلام
Gender: Male
Current Location: Kashgar
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Uyghur
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Ethnoreligious Identity Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Memettursun Islam
Extra Bio Info:
Memettursun Islam was imprisoned for his religious activity.
In 2017, authorities detained Islam. Islam's detention came amid mass detentions of largely Muslim ethnic minorities in XUAR in 2017.
On an unspecified date, Islam was sentenced to six years in prison reportedly in relation to his attendance of a sermon at a local mosque in 2013.
Islam's sentence should have ended.
Several of Islam's family members, including his brothers-in-law and mother-in-law, have been subjected to detention.
Publicly Available Information:
- "Memettursun Islam" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)