USCIRF Calls for Greater Protection of Religious Sites in Conflict Areas

USCIRF Calls for Greater Protection of Religious Sites in Conflict Areas

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls on all parties to armed conflicts around the world to abide by international humanitarian law. They should cease attacks that target, damage, and destroy houses of worship and religious sites in conflict zones, and not use houses of worship as weapons depots or as bases to launch attacks. In times of peace or conflict, governments are obligated by international law to protect religious sites.

“USCIRF underscores that international humanitarian law protects houses of worship and religious sites as sacrosanct. They cannot be targeted for destruction or incur incidental damage during armed conflict. International humanitarian law allows for exceptions to this prohibition only under very narrow circumstances,” said USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck. “We are alarmed that, despite these protections, houses of worship and religious sites continue to be impermissibly damaged and destroyed in armed conflicts around the globe.”

In recent months, multiple religious sites have been targeted in conflicts throughout the world. As a result of the conflict between Israel and Hamas after Hamas’ violent attack against Israel in October, a rocket damaged the Convent of the Missionaries of Charity in Gaza. Other churches and monasteries have been damaged as well. Gaza’s oldest mosque, the Omari Mosque, was largely destroyed in an airstrike. IDF vehicles have damaged or destroyed parts of sixteen cemeteries in Gaza and Palestinian terrorist groups have placed primed rocket launchers in cemeteries. Amid fighting in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces attacked a Coptic Christian monastery in Wad Madani. During a gathering on Christmas morning in Ethiopia, a drone strike hit the grounds of the Full Gospel Church in Baro village of Kombolcha. Also, since Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, approximately 500 houses of worship in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. In Burma, the military junta has, since seizing power in 2021, destroyed approximately 200 houses of worship and religious sites such as Buddhist monasteries, churches, and mosques during fighting with opposition forces.

“The sheer scale of destruction against houses of worship and religious sites in conflicts around the world is a shocking affront to the universal right to freedom of religion or belief. For example, throughout Nigeria, violent nonstate groups constantly attack houses of worship, religious leaders, and worshippers,” said USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf. “USCIRF urges the U.S. government to call upon all parties to armed conflicts to abide by international humanitarian law.”

In November 2023, USCIRF issued a press release on attacks on religious sites during armed conflict and a report examining threats to religious sites in Turkey, which documented damage to religious sites in the country. In October 2023, USCIRF expressed concern over rising religious hatred as a result of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In 2019, USCIRF issued a factsheet on international law protecting houses of worship and holy sites.

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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 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].