FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the barbarous murder of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by a Libyan affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which brutally beheaded them on camera.

“We grieve for these innocent young men and send our deepest condolences to their families.  These men were kidnapped and beheaded solely because they were Coptic Christians.  Once again, ISIL shows the world what it is: a barbaric, nihilistic group that wants only to kill and terrorize all who do not adhere to its extremist beliefs.  ISIL’s targets of intolerance have included reporters, aid workers, a Jordanian pilot, Muslims who do not share ISIL’s intolerant views, and especially members of minority religious communities, be they Christians, Yazidis, or other religious minorities,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett.   

The men reportedly left Egypt in hopes of finding work in Libya, and were kidnapped in separate incidents near Serte in Libya last December and January.  In a video broadcast via a website that supports Islamic State, the 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were seen being marched to a beach, forced to kneel and then beheaded.  Thirteen of the 21 Copts were from the same village of al-Our in Egypt.  Egypt is home to the largest number of Christians in the Middle East, who make up an estimated 10% of the nation’s 80 million citizens, most of whom are Sunni Muslims.

“These murders sadly underscore the perilous status of religious minorities and the threat to religious freedom across the Middle East.  USCIRF urges the United States and like-minded nations to redouble efforts to defend peaceful religious communities against ISIL’s violent religious repression and brutality, and provide humanitarian assistance to those who have been displaced,” said Lantos Swett.

Click here for USCIRF’s press releases on ISIL.

Click here for USCIRF’s FY 2014 Annual Report. 

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0613.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 6, 2015 | USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends President Obama for deepening relations with India while also recognizing religious freedom concerns during his three-day trip to the country in late January, concerns he reiterated at the February 5 National Prayer Breakfast.  On both occasions, the President highlighted how India’s success is dependent on not being “splintered along the lines of religious faith” and “in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs -- acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.”

“President Obama’s timely comments underscore the importance of India getting religious freedom right,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett.  “This is a challenge that India must and can address, given its diversity and long history of democratic values.  India’s history includes both Article 25 of its constitution – which provides for freedom of conscience and the free profession, practice, and propagation of religion – and its international commitments.  India can meet this challenge by protecting religious minorities and holding accountable the perpetrators of religiously-motivated harassment, intimidation and violence,” concluded Lantos Swett.

The President’s concerns come at a time of increasing abuses against India’s minority religious communities.  Hindu nationalist groups, such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have assaulted these communities and forced community members to convert.  In just the last three months, five churches were attacked in Delhi; Hindu nationalists reportedly forcibly converted Christians and Muslims; and a mob of more than 5,000 people attacked the majority-Muslim village of Azizpur, Bihar, killing three Muslims and setting about 25 houses on fire.  In addition, on February 5, police detained hundreds of Christians demonstrating against attacks on churches in New Delhi, including John Dayal, a human rights activist, who testified on April 4, 2014 before the Tom Lantos Commission on “The Plight of Religious Minorities in India.”

“India is one of the United States’ most important partners,” continued Lantos Swett.  “It is the world’s largest democracy with nearly 1.22 billion people, a deeply pluralistic society, and the birthplace of numerous religions.  This society includes the world’s third-largest Muslim population and a Christian population larger than several European countries.  Our two nations share many values, and upholding religious freedom must be one of them,” Lantos Swett said.

Since 2009 USCIRF designated India as a Tier 2 country, noting since 2014 increased communal and religiously-motivated attacks and slow and ineffective redress for victims of past incidents, leading to a culture of impunity.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0613.

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February 3, 2015 | USCIRF

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commends the release of activist Dr. Tun Aung and urges the government of Burma to release other prisoners of conscience in fulfillment of the promises of President Thein Sein. 

“USCIRF welcomes the release of Dr. Tun Aung from Burmese custody,” said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett.  “However, we continue to advocate for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience from Burma’s jails and urge authorities to act promptly in fulfilling President Thein Sein’s pledge to release all political prisoners by the end of 2013, a promise yet to be realized. In fact, over the last year, more people have been jailed for the peaceful expression of their beliefs.”

USCIRF had been working in conjunction with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International USA through the Defending Freedoms Project to gain the release of Dr. Tun Aung and now for the release of Ko Htin Kyaw, Ko Tin Maung Kyi, and Ko Zaw Win. 

The Defending Freedoms Project, created in 2013, partners with Members of Congress to increase support and attention to cases of prisoners of conscience worldwide.  Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) had adopted Dr. Tun Aung and worked diligently for his release.

The January 19 release of Dr. Tun Aung followed mounting pressure from the international community for the activist’s release.  Dr. Tun Aung, a respected medical doctor and leader among the Rohingya Muslim community, was arrested in 2012 after attempting to pacify an angry crowd of rioters involving both Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.  The Burmese government blamed him for the resulting violence due to his status as a community leader, and detained him.  Following an unfair trial, he subsequently was sentenced to 17 years behind bars in Burma’s notorious Insein Prison.

“Dr. Tun Aung’s case is not unique,” said Lantos Swett.  “There are countless prisoners of conscience who remain languishing in Burmese jails, and USCIRF is particularly concerned about the continued detention of human rights defenders Ko Htin Kyaw, Ko Tin Maung Kyi, and Ko Zaw Win from the Movement for Democracy Current Force, a peaceful human rights organization operating in Burma.  They were imprisoned in 2014 for peacefully protesting restrictions on expression and assembly.”

Read more on USCIRF’s work on Burma.

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-786-0613.