FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2003

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) mourns the tragic death of Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was on leave as Special Representative of the Secretary General in Iraq, and his colleagues. De Mello and 23 other UN employees were killed in Tuesday's bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

"For more than thirty years, Mr. Vieira de Mello dedicated his life to promoting peace, ending conflict, and respecting the rights of every person, particularly those seeking refuge from repression and armed conflict. Both professionally and personally, he was incredibly well respected. His skills, courage, and dedication were vital to the reconstruction of Iraq. The Commission also extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of all those who were so tragically killed," said USCIRF Chair Michael K. Young.

Commission Vice Chair, Felice D. Gaer, along with former Commissioner Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, met with Vieira de Mello in August 2002, shortly after he was named to the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights. "In our conversation, which touched on the situations in Afghanistan and Indonesia, he affirmed the indivisibility of ending conflict, protecting all human rights, and defending freedom of religion for all - women and men, citizens and refugees. He recognized the importance of looking at aid and reconstruction efforts through a human-rights lens," said Gaer.

In late May, Sergio, as he insisted he be addressed, took a leave of absence from his human rights post to serve as the UN Special Representative to Iraq and his assignment was scheduled to last four months. He was tasked with coordinating the United Nations' efforts to rebuild civil authority and promote humanitarian relief. According to the United Nations, Vieira de Mello had said the top of his agenda was to consult Iraqi leaders and opinion makers "to make sure that the interests of the Iraqi people come first" in rebuilding their country.

"He worked brilliantly for decades, with courage and grace. His death is an enormous loss to his family, friends, the United Nations, and the protection of human rights around the world," Young said.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2003

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush today appointed the Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput of Denver, Colorado, Professor Khaled M. Abou El Fadl of Los Angeles, California, and Dr. Richard D. Land of Nashville, Tennessee, to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent and bipartisan federal agency.

"I am delighted that President Bush has appointed three individuals as distinguished and knowledgeable as Archbishop Chaput, Dr. Land, and Professor El Fadl. The experience and perspective they bring will greatly enhance the work of our Commission, as well as our effectiveness. The selection of these three eminent individuals is also indicative of President Bush's commitment to the very important issue of international religious freedom," said Commission Chair Michael K. Young.

The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput was installed as the Archbishop of Denver in 1997. Prior to that he served as Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota for nearly nine years. He served as the Provincial Minister and CEO of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America in Denver for five years, in addition to holding various other leadership positions there. Upon his installation as Archbishop, he became the first Native American archbishop (Prairie Band Portawatomi Tribe) in U.S. history. Archbishop Chaput has a M.A. in Theology from the University of San Francisco and a M.A. in Religious Education from Capuchin College in Washington, DC. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Fidelis College in Pennsylvania. He was also an instructor of Theology and the Spiritual Director at St. Fidelis College Seminary.

Khaled Abou El Fadl is Visiting Professor at Yale Law School and Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles. Professor El Fadl is one of the leading authorities in Islamic law in the United States and Europe. His personal library contains over 6500 Islamic books and manuscripts, some dating from the thirteenth century. He teaches Islamic law, Middle Eastern Investment Law, Immigration Law, and courses related to human rights and terrorism. He works with various human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and the Lawyer's Committee for Human Rights. He often serves as an expert witness in international litigation involving Middle Eastern law, and in cases involving immigration law and political asylum claims. Professor Abou El Fadl was trained in Islamic legal sciences in Egypt, Kuwait, and the United States. He holds a B.A. from Yale University, a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Princeton University. After law school, he clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice J. Moeller. While in graduate school, he also practiced immigration and investment law in the United States and the Middle East. He previously has taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Yale Law School, and Princeton University.

Richard D. Land is President and CEO of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, where he has served in this position since October 1988. Dr. Land will be serving his second term on the USCIRF. Prior to becoming the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's President, Dr. Land served as The Criswell College's Vice-President for Academic Affairs from 1980 to 1988. He had taught as Professor of Theology and Church History at that institution since 1975. Dr. Land holds a B.A. from Princeton University, Ph.D. from Oxford University in England, and a Master of Theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While on leave of absence from The Criswell College, Dr. Land served from January 1987 to May 1988 as Administrative Assistant to the Honorable William P. Clements, Jr., Governor of Texas. Dr. Land was the Governor's senior advisor on a variety of issues including church-state relations. After Dr. Land's return to The Criswell College in May 1988, he continued to serve as a senior consultant to the Governor. He was also appointed in June 1988 to serve on the Governor's Welfare Reform Task Force. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and has been a member of a Southern Baptist Church since 1953. He has pastored Baptist churches in Texas, Louisiana, and England.

The Commission consists of nine voting Commissioners and the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who is a non-voting member. Three Commissioners are selected by the President, two by the leaders of the President's party in Congress, and four by the congressional leaders of the other party.

Archbishop Chaput, Professor El Fadl, and Dr. Land join Preeta Bansal, Felice D. Gaer, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, Leila Nadya Sadat, Nina Shea, and Dean Michael K. Young on the Commission. Commissioners serve for one- or two-year terms and are eligible for reappointment.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2003

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Michael K. Young, Vice Chair Felice D. Gaer, and Commissioner Preeta Bansal will travel to Kabul, Afghanistan, August 8-13, for discussions with senior officials in the government of President Karzai, members of the Constitutional, Human Rights, and Judicial Commissions, representatives of NGOs, religious and human rights organizations, and the diplomatic community.

Afghanistan is in the midst of an historic transition. The United States and other donors must continue to play a critical role in that country's transformation. Respect and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion, is essential for the successful reconstruction of Afghanistan. An Afghanistan that respects the human rights of all, including ethnic and religious minorities and women, will be a more stable, responsible member of the international community - and less likely to become a terrorist haven.

"President Bush has made strong public statements affirming the U.S. commitment to freedom in Afghanistan. The Commission is, however, seriously concerned about U.S. policies in Afghanistan and their impact on its future. There are troubling indications that Afghanistan is being reconstructed, without serious U.S. opposition, as a state in which an extreme interpretation of Sharia would be enforced by a government which the United States supports and with which our nation is closely identified," said USCIRF Chair Michael K. Young.

Commission recommendations for U.S. policy include the following:

• Because Afghans must be protected so that they can exercise their human rights, the U.S. government and other donors should enhance their efforts to enable the Karzai Administration to exercise its authority throughout the country and support expansion of international security presence beyond Kabul. The international community must end their support for warlords operating independently of central authority.

• Human rights must be fully guaranteed in the new constitution, consistent with international human rights standards. The new constitution should guarantee that the religious freedom of all Afghans is protected, that women and members of religious minorities have equal rights, that non-Muslims will not be subject to Sharia, and that punishments such as flogging, amputations, and stoning are banned.

• In order to establish the rule of law, which is essential for the protection of human rights, including religious freedom, the U.S. government and other donors should continue to support efforts by the Transitional Administration, and specifically the Judicial Reform Commission, to re-build the justice system in accordance with international standards.

• The United States and other influential external parties, including the United Nations, should urge the Karzai administration to abolish religious police or similar organizations and exclude the use of accusations of blasphemy or offending Islam to stifle public debate or the freedom of expression.

• The United States and other donors should expand programs to inform Afghans about human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, through exchange programs, broadcasting and print sources, school curricula, and teacher training.

• The United States should appoint a high-ranking official to the American diplomatic mission in Afghanistan to advance human rights, including freedom of religion, particularly in connection with reconstruction and recovery programs and the establishment of the new constitution, judiciary, and legal system.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.