Oct 27

WHEN:

Oct 27th 10:30am - Oct 27th 12:00pm

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

U.S. Policy and Freedom of Religion or Belief in North Korea

Thursday, October 27, 2022

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET

Hearing Transcript

Hearing Summary

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on freedom of religion or belief in North Korea and recommendations for U.S. foreign policy.

A monumental 2014 report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea found that “there is an almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” Two recent USCIRF research reports found that the North Korean government continues to treat religion as an existential threat and to perpetrate horrific religious freedom violations against its own people. However, nuclear and security issues tend to dominate bilateral and multilateral negotiations with North Korea, often overshadowing human rights and religious freedom concerns.

Witnesses provided the latest updates on religious freedom in the country and discussed recommendations for U.S. policy toward North Korea, including the status of the important position of the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues.

Opening Remarks

Panel

  • Robert King, former U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, U.S. Department of State; Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies
    Written Testimony
  • Shirley Lee, Consultant, Korea Future
    Written Testimony
  • Inje Hwang, Investigator, Korea Future
    Written Testimony
  • Jinmyung Choi, North Korean defector
    Written Testimony

Witnesses' Bios

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. Members of the media should register online and can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected] or (202) 702-2778.

Additional Name(s): Badi Khazei, بدیع خاضعی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Bahá`í

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October//2022

Date of Release: December/21/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Badie Khazei

Extra Bio Info:

Badie Khazei is detained for his religious belief and activity.

In October 2022, plainclothes officers arrested Khazei in Tehran. Khazei was later transferred to Evin Prison reportedly after authorities learned he was Baha'i.

On December 21, 2022, Khazei was reportedly released on bail.

In January 2023, it was reported that Khazei had been sentenced to five years in prison for "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC) and one year for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). He is expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.

Sources:

Oct 19, 2022

USCIRF Releases New Report on Blasphemy in Southeast Asia

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Blasphemy and Related Laws in ASEAN Member Countries – This report reviews blasphemy laws and their enforcement within the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), highlighting recent cases and providing analysis on related laws. Blasphemy is defined as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things.”  In particular, blasphemy laws remain an ongoing religious freedom violation in Indonesia and Malaysia as well a potent tool for authoritarian and right-wing forces in Burma and Thailand. While many such laws are a legacy of colonialism, some countries in the region have expanded their legal restrictions in the subsequent decades since independence.

USCIRF has monitored religious freedom conditions in several Southeast Asian countries discussed in this report. In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern and place Malaysia and Indonesia on its Special Watch List. In 2020, USCIRF released a report on the global enforcement of blasphemy laws titled “Violating Rights: Enforcing the World’s Blasphemy Laws.”

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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].

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