U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
USCIRF Conversation: Rising Authoritarianism in ASEAN Member States
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Virtual Event
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual event discussing the intersection between international religious freedom and rising authoritarianism in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The world is witnessing what many refer to as a rise of authoritarianism and anti-democratic forces. This trend is clearly evident in Southeast Asia, which has experienced in the last decade diminishing civic space and disastrous military coups. Even among the democratic countries of the region, an increasing number of political actors have turned to ethno-religious sentiments in pursuit of electoral politics, promising to reshape legal systems to cater to their own communities at the expense of others. USCIRF has long expressed concern over the impact of this trend, particularly as authoritarian regimes control the majority of countries included in its Annual Report each year. This virtual conversation focused on this troubling phenomenon and its effect on the unique religious freedom contexts of Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia.
USCIRF Commissioners David Curry and Stephen Schneck joined guest panelists Hisham Muhaimi and Dan Slater. Commissioner Schneck recently returned from a USCIRF delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia. USCIRF Policy Analyst Patrick Greenwalt moderated the conversation, followed by questions and answers from attendees.
Panelists
This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Indonesia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: December//2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Gratia Pello is detained for blasphemy.
In December 2022, authorities in Surabaya, East Java, reportedly arrested Pello, a professor at a Christian theological school, in relation to his popular YouTube videos, in which he often compared Christianity to Islam. Police reportedly questioned Pello over comments he made about the Prophet Muhammad and his family in a February 2022 video.
"Police Arrest Christian Apologist in Indonesia" Morning Star News
"Indonesian Apologist Vanished Following December Arrest" International Christian Concern (ICC)
"Indonésie: un théologien chrétien arrêté, sa famille menacée" Portes Ouvertes
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Burma
Ethnic Group: Chin
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 23 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September//2021
Date of Sentencing: December/7/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism
Thian Lian Sang is imprisoned for his religious leadership role.
In September 2021, authorities reportedly arrested Sang, a Chin Baptist pastor, amid a wave of detentions by the Burmese Army of faith leaders from minority ethnic and religious communities.
On December 7, 2022, Thian Lian Sang was sentenced to three years in prison for "publishing or circulating any statement, rumor, or report with intent to cause...any officer, soldier...to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty" (Sec. 505(a) BPC) and 20 years for terrorism (Sec. 49(a) Counter-Terrorism Law).
"Chin pastor receives prison sentence, Former junta ministers sentenced for corruption" Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)
"Chin Baptist Pastor Abducted by the Burmese Army Still Missing" International Christian Concern (ICC)