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August 28, 2020
Sep 26
WHEN:
Sep 26th 2:30pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Religious Minorities’ Fight to Remain in Iraq
Thursday, September 26, 2019
2:30 – 4:00 PM
385 Russell Senate Office Building
Hearing Summary
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a hearing about the religious freedom situation in Iraq and the conditions that would enable religious minorities to return to and flourish in their communities.
Iraq has traditionally been home to one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse populations in the Middle East. While a majority Shi’a Muslim and minority Sunni Muslim population together account for 95-98% of the country, Iraq also once boasted a large Chaldean and Assyrian Christian population of around 1.5 million and around half a million Yazidis, in addition to an array of smaller ethno-religious communities such as Shabaks, Kaka’is, Sabean-Mandaeans, and others. However, systematic persecution and the ongoing violent conflict have caused those traditional demographics to undergo seismic shifts, displacing record numbers of people who are seeking to return to their historic homelands.
More than five years after ISIS’ genocidal rampage across northwest Iraq, circumstances for traumatized minorities remain dire. Tens of thousands of Yazidis linger in IDP camps, their villages in Sinjar still in ruin, while Iraqi Christians—of whom only an estimated 200,000 remain in the country—trickle back to towns in the Nineveh Plain while questioning whether Iraq still holds a place for them. The United States and other international partners have pledged tens of millions of dollars to help rehabilitate areas that ISIS left in ruin, and those funds have begun to make a difference—but there still remains substantial, long-term work to help those vulnerable populations return, rebuild, and remain.
Witnesses will highlight U.S. policies and programs in Iraq that support religious minorities, ongoing religious freedom-related challenges in the country such as anti-blasphemy laws and discrimination, and the factors on the ground affecting religious communities’ ability to return to their homes.
Opening Remarks
- Tony Perkins, Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Hallam Ferguson, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Middle East Bureau, United States Agency for International Development Written Testimony
- Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director, Free Yezidi Foundation Written Testimony
- Reine Hanna, Director, Assyrian Policy Institute Written Testimony
- Aaron Ashoff, Deputy Director for International Projects, Samaritan’s Purse Written Testimony
- Scott Portman, Director, Middle East and North Africa, Heartland Alliance International
August 28, 2020
Oct 23
WHEN:
Oct 23rd 3:00pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Protecting Houses of Worship and Holy Sites
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
3:00 – 4:30 PM
106 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Hearing Summary
Hearing Transcript
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a hearing about the global targeting of houses of worship and holy sites around the world and how to protect them.
Houses of worship and other religious sites should be sanctuaries where worshippers feel safe to practice their faith. Tragically, as the 2019 incidents in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Burkina Faso attest, attacks on houses of worship are increasingly occurring around the globe. These attacks aim to destroy the place of worship precisely for its religious significance, cause harm to a unique religious group, and instill fear in those that worship there.
Alongside these horrific attacks, places of worship are often harmed more subtly through the misuse of registration procedures to prevent their construction or renovation, the malicious surveillance of holy sites to intimidate worshippers, or acts of vandalism that aim to send a threatening message and harm property. Different types of buildings and properties that are significant to religious communities, such as cemeteries, monasteries, or community centers, also have been targeted. While violent attacks on such places are typically committed by non-state actors, less overt forms of harms and restrictions are often imposed by state authorities as well. This includes the failure of states to ensure the preservation of sacred places, places of worship, and cultural property that constitutes the cultural or spiritual heritage of people.
How can the international community better work together to stem the global violent targeting of houses of worship? Witnesses will highlight U.S. programs, intergovernmental initiatives, interfaith efforts, and other policy recommendations that aim to ensure that holy places remain safe havens and not sites of bloodshed.
Opening Remarks
- Tony Perkins, Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Honorable Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State Written Testimony
- H.E. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative, U.N. Alliance of Civilizations Written Testimony
- Hassan Abbas, Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Center, National Defense University Written Testimony
- Sharon Rosen, Global Director for Religious Engagement, Search for Common Ground Written Testimony
February 11, 2020
Feb 11
WHEN:
Feb 11th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Briefing
Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security:
New Policy Guidance from the OSCE
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Senate Visitors Center (SVC) 203-02
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a briefing on the nexus of freedom of religion or belief and security, including findings from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights’ (ODIHR) recent publication, Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: Policy Guidance.
In the OSCE region, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is violated by some governments who use the pretext of national security to justify repression. For example, in Russia’s Tatarstan region, cameras are installed in mosques to transmit videos of worshippers during their prayers to state security services. In Uzbekistan, thousands of religious prisoners remain incarcerated for “extremism” or the possession of “extremist” religious literature. In Azerbaijan, authorities continue to deny legal registration to Baptists and Jehovah’s Witnesses residing outside the capital. Although these actions aim to improve security, failure to balance security with freedom of religion or belief can actually undermine it.
Freedom of Religion or Belief: Policy Guidance clarifies the interrelationship between FoRB and security as mutually reinforcing objectives, in line with the OSCE’s comprehensive framework for peace and security. The document includes guiding principles, practical guidance, and recommendations to address pertinent issues at the intersection of the freedom of religion and security, including the registration of religious communities, religious literature deemed “extremist”, the monitoring of places of worship, and restrictions on conversion.
Panelists will present the policy guidance document, discuss its findings and recommendations, further explore the intersection of security and FoRB, and consider tools and strategies for governments and other relevant stakeholders to advance both objectives simultaneously. There will be an interactive question and answer period with audience members after the panelist presentations.
Remarks
- Tony Perkins, Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Kishan Manocha, Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion or Belief, OSCE/ODIHR
- Douglas Padgett, U.S. Department of State, Office of International Religious Freedom
- Elizabeth Clark, Professor of Law, Brigham Young University School of Law
August 29, 2019
Jan 08
WHEN:
Jan 8th 1:30pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Global Efforts to Counter Anti-Semitism
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
1:30 – 3:00 PM
325 Russell Senate Office Building
Hearing Summary
Hearing Transcript
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a hearing about how U.S. foreign policy and the international community can counter the growing threat of anti-Semitism around the world.
The global Jewish community is facing a rising tide of anti-Semitic hatred characterized by vandalism, Holocaust denial, violent attacks, hate speech, and the perpetuation of vicious stereotypes. Devastating attacks on synagogues, like the one in October in Halle, Germany on Yom Kippur, illustrate the risks Jews take by seeking to worship and live out their religious identity. Jews in some regions are even refraining from wearing kippahs, Star of David necklaces, and other identifying clothing in order to prevent targeted attacks against them.
Nations around the world have sought to respond to the threat by increasing security at synagogues and schools, strengthening education aimed at countering prejudice and Holocaust denial, and by supporting interfaith dialogue and understanding. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief recently released a comprehensive report on anti-Semitic trends globally and offered policy recommendations to governments, and the European Union recently held a summit to develop strategies to address anti-Semitism. In the United States, Congress continues to work on these issues, most recently through bipartisan taskforces aimed at combatting anti-Semitism.
Witnesses will highlight recommendations to counter anti-Semitism and discuss how the international community can more effectively ensure that the global Jewish community can worship freely and without fear.
Opening Remarks
- Senator Jacky Rosen, D-NV, Co-Chair, Senate Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism
- Tony Perkins, Chair, USCIRF
- Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written remarks
- Gary Bauer, Commissioner, USCIRF Written remarks
- Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Written testimony
- Elan Carr, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, U.S. Department of State Written testimony
- Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies, Tam Institute for Jewish Studies and the Department of Religion, Emory University Written testimony
- Sharon Nazarian, Senior Vice President of International Affairs, Anti-Defamation League Written testimony
- Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and Professor of International Relations, American University Written testimony
- Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of the Global Social Action Agenda, Simon Wiesenthal Center Written testimony
April 28, 2021
May 12
WHEN:
May 12th 10:30am
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May 12th 12:00pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Ending Genocide:
U.S. Government Genocide Determinations and Next Steps
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Hearing
Hearing Transcript
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing that will highlight how the U.S. government has made the determination to call, or not to call, mass atrocities against religious groups genocide and offer recommendations to enhance U.S. efforts to respond to mass atrocities.
The 1948 Genocide Convention states that genocide occurs when specific acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The Convention confers obligations on states to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. Since the United States ratified the Genocide Convention in 1988, the U.S. Department of State has determined that genocides occurred in Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Darfur, areas under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and most recently China. Official designations can increase international attention to the crimes, strengthen the case for multilateral pressure on the perpetrators, and bolster efforts for accountability. Genocide determinations are often made only after a thorough and lengthy investigative process.
Today, the Burmese military continues to violently target the mostly Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Chinese government continues to hold the predominately Muslim Uyghur people in detention camps, enact measures to decrease the population, and actively separate children from their parents. What more can be done? How can the U.S. government more effectively work to halt ongoing mass atrocities against religious and other groups even in the absence of a genocide determination? Witnesses will explain how the U.S. government has made past genocide determinations, explore policy options once a determination has been made, and discuss strategies to prevent and stop mass atrocities against religious groups.
Opening Remarks
- Anurima Bhargava, Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Tony Perkins, Vice Chair, USCIRF Written Remarks
- Todd Buchwald, Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University Law School; Former Ambassador, Office of Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State Written Testimony
- Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director, Free Yezidi Foundation Written Testimony
- Beth Van Schaack, Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor of Human Rights, Stanford Law School; Former Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State Written Testimony
- Daniel Fullerton, Former Counsel, Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG); Co-Author of PILPG report documenting atrocity crimes against the Rohingya Written Testimony
- Wai Wai Nu, Founder and Executive Director, Women’s Peace Network Written Testimony
July 20, 2021
Jul 28
WHEN:
Jul 28th 10:30am
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Jul 28th 12:00pm
Ending Genocide:
Accountability for Perpetrators
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Virtual Hearing
Register Here
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) for a joint virtual hearing on how the international community can hold perpetrators of mass atrocities, both state and non-state actors, accountable for international crimes, including genocide, committed against religious communities.
Despite the 1948 Genocide Convention and declarations of “never again,” perpetrators around the world continue to commit genocide, including against religious communities, with impunity. Holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes is imperative for deterrence and is a key element in providing justice to the victims of these crimes along with reparations for devastated communities, restoring the dignity of survivors, and supporting broader transitional justice processes that deal with the legacy of conflict. Despite this importance, in the face of ongoing mass atrocities, or even in their aftermath, many obstacles impede the ability of victims to access justice. While States have the primary obligation under international law to criminally prosecute those responsible for mass atrocity crimes, international and hybrid courts can help close the accountability gap.
Several religious communities targeted by genocide in recent years continue to raise their voices for justice. In Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant committed genocide against Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities, spurring calls for international trials to end the cycle of violence and impunity. Responding to the plight of the Rohingya, the Gambia initiated proceedings at the International Court of Justice against Burma for its alleged genocide against that community. Civil society launched the Uyghur Tribunal as a response to the inability to date to bring the government of the People’s Republic of China before a formal international court. Ongoing efforts to document and collect evidence of grave human rights violations at the international and local levels also support victims to ensure future criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Witnesses will discuss how the U.S. government and the international community can identify and support opportunities to hold perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable and ensure justice for victims.
Opening Remarks
- Rep. James McGovern, D-MA, Co-Chair, TLHRC
- Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, Co-Chair, TLHRC
- Nadine Maenza, Chair, USCIRF
- Nury Turkel, Vice Chair, USCIRF
- Jonathan Agar, Legal Officer, United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh / ISIL (UNITAD)
- Stephen Rapp, former Ambassador, Office of Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State
- Carmen Cheung, Executive Director, Center for Justice and Accountability
- Alim Seytoff, Director, Uyghur Service, Radio Free Asia
- M. Arsalan Suleman, Counsel, Foley Hoag; former Acting Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, U.S. Department of State