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October 08, 2020
Click here to view the 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 relevant international and regional actors.
October 13, 2020
Oct 21
WHEN:
Oct 21st 10:00am
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Oct 21st 11:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Combatting Online Hate Speech and Disinformation
Targeting Religious Communities
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Virtual Hearing
Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing about how some governments use and enable others to use social media platforms to sow disinformation and hate speech that target religious communities and incite violence against them.
During the past two decades, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms have emerged as invaluable tools for connecting people around the world. However, we have also witnessed the use of social media to spread false and discriminatory information that dehumanizes specific groups of people, including faith communities and religious minorities. Online hate speech and misinformation has been used to target and mobilize violence against the Rohingya in Burma, Jews in Iran, Shi’a Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, to name only a few.
The U.S. government and the international community must do more to understand how social media technologies are used to mobilize religious freedom violations, and work together to address this phenomenon. Witnesses will give analysis on these topics and present policy recommendations to the U.S. government.
Opening Remarks
- Gayle Manchin, Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Tony Perkins, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Anurima Bhargava, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- David Kaye, Clinical Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine; former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Written Testimony
- Susan Benesch, Executive Director, Dangerous Speech Project Written Testimony
- Shakuntala Banaji, Professor of Media, Culture and Social Change, London School of Economics Written Testimony
- Waris Husain, Adjunct Professor, Howard University; former USCIRF Policy Analyst Written Testimony
July 20, 2020
Jul 20, 2020
This op-ed was originally published by The Washington Examiner, on July 20, 2020.
By USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins
In Iraq, the 50th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces has been involved in extortion, illegal arrests, kidnappings, and detention of individuals without warrants, often targeting Christians, Yazidis, and other religious minorities returning to the Nineveh Plains and Sinjar. Rayan al-Kildani, the ruthless leader of this militia who operates under the guidance of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was videotaped brutally cutting off the ear of a detainee.
In Burma, over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh after Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown in August 2017 that included mass killings, gang rape, and wide spread arson. The United Nations has called for the Burmese Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing to be prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes for leading the military to commit such horrendous crimes.
Besides both being responsible for abhorrent bloodshed, a commonality between al-Kildani and Hlaing is that they were both sanctioned under the 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the related 2017 executive order, E.O. 13818.
The Global Magnitsky Act allows financial sanctions and visa restrictions to be imposed on a designated individual for corruption or human rights abuses. As of December 2019, 198 individuals had been sanctioned under Global Magnitsky, but only 16 – less than 10% – of these sanctions have directly related to religious freedom abuses.
Alongside Global Magnitsky, the U.S. government has used other tools to impose consequences on violators of religious freedom.
The State Department increasingly uses Section 7031(c) of the annual appropriations law, which requires the secretary of state to make foreign officials and their immediate family members ineligible for U.S. entry if there is credible evidence that such individuals have been involved in “a gross violation of human rights.” Over 100 of these designations were announced publicly last year, although, only a small number were related to religious freedom. Notable designations for gross violations of human rights connected to the freedom of religion or belief included the former director of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) for alleged torture and two Russian officials for their involvement in the arrest and torture of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), where we serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, details in its 2020 Annual Report religious freedom conditions globally and provides recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress. We note the imposition of sanctions and visa restrictions in response to attacks on religious freedom and commend the U.S. government for its strong action in those cases. However, the number of sanctions imposed in 2019 are few in comparison to the scale of serious religious violations that occurred globally. Our report alone cites 29 countries where governments or societal actors severely violate religious freedom.
President Trump has stated that “protecting religious freedom is one of [his] highest priorities.” To match this commitment, we urge the U.S. government to more vigorously use the targeted accountability tools available to punish individuals and agencies directly responsible for the severe religious freedom violations detailed in our report.
In our report, we note contexts where asset freezes and visa bans on individual officials, agencies, and military units can stem continued religious persecution, including in India, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, and Russia.
We also name specific individuals that should held accountable, such as Caridad Diego, the head of Cuba’s Office of Religious Affairs who has personally led her office’s campaign of harassment against religious life on the island, as well as Chen Quanguo, China’s Xinjiang Communist Party Secretary who created the blueprint for the dystopian surveillance state that has led to 1.8 million Uighur and other Muslims being placed in concertation camps.
The Administration has a wide range of tools to impose consequences for human rights violators. This is why we call on Congress to evaluate the policy tools available for targeted human rights-related sanctions and consider giving the State Department authority to impose individual visa bans for gross human rights violations through new legislation. Congress should also define the authority’s relationship to Global Magnitsky sanctions to aid the Administration in implementing the most appropriate and impactful tool among a menu of options. These options help ensure that each targeted sanction imposes a consequential punishment on the individual violator, who may personally benefit from their access to the U.S. financial system or send their children to school in the United States.
We hope that in 2020 others will join al-Kildani and Hlaing on the list of individuals and entities sanctioned for severe religious freedom violations. The imposition of a more aggressive targeted sanctions regime would go a long way in deterring religious freedom violators, bringing accountability to the perpetrators, and ultimately creating a world where all are free to practice their faith.
December 28, 2020
Dec 28, 2020
USCIRF Troubled with the Relocation of Rohingya Refugees to Bhasan Char Island
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its concern over reports that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are being forced to relocate from Cox’s Bazaar to the cyclone and flooding prone island of Bhasan Char.
“We are concerned that many Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Burma are facing forced relocation to an area that is deemed unsafe by the United Nations,” stated USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “The transfer of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island must be based on a voluntary and informed decision, not a pressured or coerced initiative on behalf of the Bangladesh government.”
While USCIRF, along with the U.S. Department of State, commends Bangladesh for providing refuge to millions of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution and violence in Burma, USCIRF also recognizes the apprehension faced by Rohingya refugees in relocating to a flood-prone area that is disconnected from mainland Bangladesh.
USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza added, “We are gravely concerned about the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. We understand the many challenges the Bangladeshi government is facing while hosting the Rohingya refugees, especially during a global pandemic. However, we urge the Bangladeshi government to respect voluntary movement and ensure that refugees have access to health, livelihood, education, and be protected from natural disasters, such as cyclones and flooding from monsoons.”
USCIRF hopes that conditions in Burma improve allowing the return of Rohingya Muslim refugees from Bangladesh to their homes and livelihoods. In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State continue to designate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern, due to Burma’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief that includes its persecution of the Rohingya. In October 2020, USCIRF released a factsheet on Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia.
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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 Media@USCIRF.gov.
February 02, 2021
Feb 2, 2021
USCIRF Worried about Violence against Rohingya and other Religious Communities Following Military Coup in Burma
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned about the potential for further violence against religious communities following the military coup in Burma. The Burmese military, also known as the Tatmadaw, perpetrated a genocidal campaign against the Rohingya people, and these same military officials are now claiming power following the coup.
“USCIRF is deeply concerned about the Burmese military’s state of emergency announcement and the detentions of Aung San Suu Kyi and other state officials from the recently re-elected National League for Democracy party. Given the history of brutal atrocities by the Burmese military, our fear is that violence could quickly escalate, especially towards religious and ethnic communities, such as the Rohingya and other Muslims,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “We urge the Burmese military to honor the faith and will of the Burmese people and restore democratic civilian rule as soon as possible."
The Burmese military’s 2017 operations and continued crackdown against the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state sparked mass migration to Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as internal displacement. The Tatmadaw is accused of targeting Rohingya with killings; mass rape and other sexual violence; disappearances; forced starvation; arbitrary detentions and arrests; looting, burning, and property confiscations; and hate speech. In 2020, the International Court of Justice issued a provisional order requiring that Burma must “refrain from acts of genocide against the Rohingya” and “ensure that the military and other groups subject to its control refrain from genocide or related acts.” The International Criminal Court continues to investigate the country for crimes against humanity.
“The Burmese military has still not been held accountable for the atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslim refugees,” said USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza. “We urge the Biden Administration to hold the Burmese military accountable for its genocidal actions against Rohingya refugees, especially considering the events that transpired over the past couple of days. We fear for the safety of the remaining Rohingya Muslims and Christians in Burma that are indiscriminately targeted by the Tatmadaw.”
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Burma as a “Country of Particular Concern” for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). In March 2020, USCIRF published a factsheet on the accountability for international crimes against the Rohingya, urging the U.S. government to refocus efforts to conclude definitively and publicly whether atrocities against the Rohingya meet the legal definition of crimes against humanity and/or genocide.
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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 media@uscirf.gov.
February 03, 2021
Full Interview
Feb 3, 2021
August 12, 2020
USCIRF ADVOCATE: Daniel Mark
Advocacy:
Press Release: BURMA: Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Pwint Phyu Latt and Zaw Zaw Latt Released (May 26, 2017)
Article: Catholic News Agency -- US leaders tell persecuted believers: 'You are not alone' (April 6, 2017)
Related Reports and Briefs:
2017 Annual Report chapter on Burma
2017 Annual Report chapter on Burma (Burmese translation)
Newsroom:
Press Release: USCIRF Issues Reports on Religious Freedom Violations in Burma (December 13, 2016)
Op-Ed: Religion News Service -- Empower women by standing for religious freedom (December 9, 2016)
Press Release: BURMA: USCIRF Urges Government to End Religious Freedom Abuses (April 14, 2016)
Press Release: BURMA: USCIRF Calls for the Protection of Religious and Ethnic Minorities During Post-Election Period and Beyond (November 13, 2015)
Press Release: BURMA: USCIRF Condemns Passage of Religious Conversion Bill (August 24, 2015)
Press Release: USCIRF Welcomes Release of Jailed Burmese Activist, Urges Freedom for All Burmese Prisoners of Conscience (February 3, 2015)
Other Resources:
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
State Department International Religious Freedom Report
Country:
Burma
Key Fact:
Interfaith peace advocates
Charges:
Violating Article 13(1) of the Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act, for purportedly crossing the Burma-India border; Violating article 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for their 2013 visit to Kachin State
Sentence:
After two years of imprisonment and two more years of hard labor, Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were released on May 24, 2017.
Detained Since:
Jul 14, 2015
Release Date:
May 24, 2017
Biography:
Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt are two Muslim interfaith peace advocates who have been imprisoned since 2015. The two participated in an interfaith peace trip in June 2013 to the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), during which they delivered a Christian cross and a statue of Buddha as signs of peace. In April 2014, they traveled to Chin State on a humanitarian relief mission, taking pictures at the Burma-India border, a crossing that they stated immigration officers had approved. Nearly two years after their interfaith trip, the Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha began pressuring the Burmese government to detain them, alleging that both had promoted “inter-religious mating,” insulted Buddhism, and collaborated with the Kachin Independence Army.
The two were arrested in July 2015. After a six-month trial, both were convicted under article 13(1) of the since-repealed Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act for allegedly crossing the Burma-India border, and sentenced to two years in prison. On April 8, 2016, the day in which the government amnestied more than 100 prisoners, both advocates were charged with violating article 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act due to their 2013 visit to Kachin State, for which they were convicted and sentenced to two additional years in prison with hard labor.
Despite the repeal of the Emergency Provisions Act under which Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were initially sentenced, neither were released nor had their sentences reduced. At last, after two years of imprisonment and two more years of hard labor, both were released on May 24, 2017. They were two of 259 prisoners released in a presidential amnesty to mark the beginning of the Union Peace Conference, also known as the 21st Century Panglong Conference.
April 17, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2020
USCIRF Welcomes Release of Hundreds of Imprisoned Rohingya in Burma, Calls for More to be Released
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes Burmese authorities dropping charges of illegal travel against over 200 Rohingya and releasing them from prison.
Since 2001, the government has required Rohingya to have passes in order to travel outside Rakhine State, which are difficult to obtain. These restrictions have resulted in thousands of Rohingya imprisoned on illegal travel charges, especially as many attempt to flee the ongoing Burmese military operations.
“Amid the worsening crisis with COVID-19, releasing hundreds of wrongfully imprisoned Rohingya is an encouraging step by Burmese authorities,” stated USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza. “This process must continue. Individuals held in overcrowded and unsanitary prisons face an increased threat from this disease. With thousands more Rohingya unjustly imprisoned, we strongly urge the Burmese government to release them all as a humanitarian gesture amid the country’s efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19.”
USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava added, “We also express our concern with the worsening conditions for civilians within Rakhine State and neighboring Chin State where Burmese military operations have continued. With the growing threat from COVID-19, the Burmese government must ensure that humanitarian and medical aid is able to reach these vulnerable communities—including camps for internally displaced persons—regardless of religious or ethnic identity. This includes lifting the internet blockade in Rakhine and Chin States re-imposed in February, which further hampers aid efforts and the COVID-19 response in the region.”
USCIRF has called upon governments around the world to release religious prisoners of conscience due to the elevated risk of COVID-19 spreading within prison populations due to their inability to social distance and follow public health guidance. To learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on religious freedom, please see the USCIRF Factsheet: The Global Response to the Coronavirus: Impact on Religious Practice and Religious Freedom.
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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 Media@USCIRF.gov or Danielle Ashbahian at dashbahian@uscirf.gov.
August 28, 2019
Jul 24
WHEN:
Jul 24th 1:00pm
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Jul 24th 1:00pm
Summer Seminar #2 — Anti-Semitism: The World's Oldest Hatred — New Again?
Wednesday, July 24
2168 Rayburn House Office Building
Speakers:
The Honorable Elan Carr, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
The Honorable Nita Lowey, Chair, Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, and Member, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Lee Zeldin, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Rabbi David Saperstein, former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Gary Bauer, Commissioner, USCIRF
Tad Stahnke, William and Sheila Konar Director of International Outreach, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Anti-Semitism Factsheet Anti-Semitism Around the World
June 24, 2019
Jun 24
WHEN:
Jun 24th 6:59pm
Summer Seminar #1 — A Foundational Human Right: Why International Religious Freedom Matters
Monday, June 24, 2019
Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC 203-02
Speakers:
Brian Grim, President, Religious Freedom and Business Foundation
Presentation
The Honorable Frank Wolf, former member, House of Representatives
Commissioner Kristina Arriaga, USCIRF