U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Women’s Roles in Advancing International Religious Freedom
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Virtual Hearing
Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on the role of women in advancing international religious freedom.
In 2020, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief expressed concern over gender-based discrimination justified in the name of religion or belief and emphasized that states are responsible for enabling environments that advance non-discrimination and freedom of religion or belief for women and girls. Freedom of religion or belief benefits from the protection and advancement of gender equality, as international human rights are interlocking and interdependent. Additionally, women are proactively working to protect this right for themselves and others around the world.
From Malaysia, where women fight for the right to interpret Islamic text through a gender-inclusive lens, to Sudan, where women played an integral role in ending an authoritarian regime that placed significant restrictions on religious practice and discourse, women’s approaches to advancing religious freedom globally are varied and diverse. They include advocating for the repeal of blasphemy laws, fighting discrimination against religious minorities, combatting anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bias in their communities, fighting for the rights of women and LGBTI individuals to interpret and practice religion as they choose, and leading programs to promote interfaith tolerance and reduce violent extremism.
Women play a vital yet often overlooked role in protecting freedom of religion or belief and advocating for the rights of religious minorities. This hearing explored the strategies and means through which women work to promote and protect religious freedom abroad, and how the U.S. government can better support such efforts.
Opening Remarks
Panel I
Panel II
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 Nina Ullom at [email protected] or (202) 322-0232.
Additional Name(s): Milad Reda Tawfiq Ayyad, ميلاد رضا توفيق عياد
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Egypt
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: January/30/2022
Date of Release: April/23/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions
Nature of Charges: Public Disorder Terrorism
Milad Reda Tawfik Ayyad was detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On January 30, 2022, authorities arrested Ayyad and several other Copts a week after they had peacefully protested against authorities' inaction to rebuild the Church of St. Joseph and Abu Seifein in Samalut, Minya governorate. In 2016, the church was destroyed in a fire. Authorities reportedly did not investigate the cause of the incident. In July 2021, the church was formally demolished, and church representatives applied for a license to rebuild the church under Church Building Law 60/2016. However, they received no response from authorities within the law's stipulated waiting period.
Ayyad was accused of participating in a demonstration threatening public safety and committing a terrorist act.
On April 23, 2022, Ayyad was released.
Related Cases: Abanoub Magdy Semaan, Girgis Samir Girgis, Jayid Saad Zekry, Milad Mahrous Tawfik, Mina Salib Hosni, Mounir Samir Mounir, Raymond Mamdouh William, Shenouda Salib Hosni
"Renewed imprisonment of 9 Copts accused of demonstrating in order to issue a decision to rebuild a church, and EIPR calls for their release" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"Egypt: Release nine Coptic Christians detained for attempting to rebuild church" Amnesty International
"Renewed imprisonment of 9 Copts accused of demonstrating in order to issue a decision to rebuild a church, and EIPR calls for their release" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"تجديد حبس 9 أقباط متهمين بالتظاهر من أجل صدور قرار بإعادة بناء كنيسة، والمبادرة المصرية تطالب بإخلاء سبيلهم" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"تظاهر أقباط عزبة فرج الله بمحافظة المنيا للمطالبة بإعادة إنشاء كنيسة .. والمبادرة المصرية تجدد مطالبها بإعادة النظر في قانون بناء وترميم الكنائس" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
Additional Name(s): مينا صليب حسني
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Egypt
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: January/30/2022
Date of Release: April/23/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions
Nature of Charges: Public Disorder Terrorism
Mina Salib Hosni was detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On January 30, 2022, authorities arrested Hosni and several other Copts a week after they had peacefully protested against authorities' inaction to rebuild the Church of St. Joseph and Abu Seifein in Samalut, Minya governorate. In 2016, the church was destroyed in a fire. Authorities reportedly did not investigate the cause of the incident. In July 2021, the church was formally demolished, and church representatives applied for a license to rebuild the church under Church Building Law 60/2016. However, they received no response from authorities within the law's stipulated waiting period.
Hosni was accused of participating in a demonstration threatening public safety and committing a terrorist act.
On April 23, 2022, Hosni was released.
Related Cases: Abanoub Magdy Semaan, Girgis Samir Girgis, Jayid Saad Zekry, Milad Mahrous Tawfik, Milad Reda Tawfik Ayyad, Mounir Samir Mounir, Raymond Mamdouh William, Shenouda Salib Hosni
"Renewed imprisonment of 9 Copts accused of demonstrating in order to issue a decision to rebuild a church, and EIPR calls for their release" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"Egypt: Release nine Coptic Christians detained for attempting to rebuild church" Amnesty International
"Renewed imprisonment of 9 Copts accused of demonstrating in order to issue a decision to rebuild a church, and EIPR calls for their release" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"تجديد حبس 9 أقباط متهمين بالتظاهر من أجل صدور قرار بإعادة بناء كنيسة، والمبادرة المصرية تطالب بإخلاء سبيلهم" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
"تظاهر أقباط عزبة فرج الله بمحافظة المنيا للمطالبة بإعادة إنشاء كنيسة .. والمبادرة المصرية تجدد مطالبها بإعادة النظر في قانون بناء وترميم الكنائس" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)