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.”
###
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].
Additional Name(s): Deoria Jail
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/11/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Javed Mohammed
Extra Bio Info:
Javed Mohammed is detained for his religious identity, criticizing religious freedom conditions, and community leadership role in protesting religious freedom conditions.
On June 11, 2022, police in Uttar Pradesh arrested Mohammed, a Muslim activist and community leader, after accusing him of organizing protests that turned violent against comments made by the then-active Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson perceived as insulting to the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Authorities have referred to Mohammed as a key conspirator of the violence, despite Mohammed’s social media activity calling for peace and his prominent leadership role in the community. Mohammed had also been known for his involvement in protests against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and criticism of the BJP and government officials. Mohammed’s wife and one of his daughters were also briefly detained the same day as his arrest.
On June 12, 2022, authorities demolished Mohammed’s home, claiming it was illegal.
On July 16, 2022, the Prayagraj administration reportedly invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Mohammed.
In January 2023, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Mohammed. However, he remained in prison pending other cases against him.
Sources:
-
"Prayagraj violence: Activist Javed Mohammed granted bail by Allahabad High Court" Scroll.in
-
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in India November 2022
-
“Prayagraj violence: National Security Act invoked against activist Javed Mohammed” Scroll.in
-
“Amidst Official Silence, Allahabad Activist Javed Mohammad's Family Discover He Is in Deoria Jail” The Wire
-
“Prayagraj Accused Javed Mohammed Has Stood for Peace, Worked Closely With Admin” The Quint
-
“UP Police Arrests Javed Mohammad, Calls Him 'Mastermind' of Prayagraj Violence” The Quint
Nov 03
Nov 3rd 10:00am
-
Nov 3rd 11:00am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
USCIRF Conversation: Iranian Government Propaganda Against Religious Minorities
Thursday, November 3, 2022
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Virtual Event
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual discussion of USCIRF’s recent report on Iranian government propaganda and abuses against religious minorities, in light of the brutal crackdowns, arrests, and killings of peaceful protestors against the mandatory religious headscarf (hijab) laws.
Iran’s government uses both traditional and social media to incite intolerance against the country’s many religious minority communities, including Jews, Sunni Muslims, Gonabadi Sufis, Christian converts, and Baha’is. This propaganda promotes false narratives that Iranian religious minorities are disloyal and serves to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing and systematic crackdown on these groups.
The report, which draws on primary source Persian-language material, finds that Iran’s government commonly accuses religious minorities of having ties to foreign states and wishing to sow discord within the country. Iranian propaganda accuses Jews of being responsible for Iran’s economic problems and of being spies for Israel. Sunnis are framed as a demographic threat to the country’s Shi’a majority and therefore a national security threat. Iran’s propaganda falsely accuses Gonabadi Sufis of being a violent sect tied to foreign entities. It calls Christian converts members of a “Zionist evangelist cult” engaged in widespread security efforts against Iran. Baha’is are discussed as a deviant sect of Islam and a treasonous group with deviant moral practices. These messages serve to justify the Iranian government’s ongoing religious freedom violations.
USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland led the discussion with Shahin Milani, Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and author of the report.
- Eric Ueland, Commissioner, USCIRF
- Shahin Milani, Executive Director, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
- Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF
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].