Oct 20, 2021
USCIRF Troubled by Violent Attacks on Durga Puja Procession in Bangladesh
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its deep concern about the attacks this week on Durga Puja festivities, and the ongoing communal violence in Bangladesh.
“USCIRF is gravely troubled about the recent wave of violence against Hindus that has erupted in Bangladesh. We applaud Prime Minister Shiekh Hassina’s response to the heinous crimes by sending paramilitary forces to contain violence. However, we continue to urge the Bangladeshi government to crackdown on extremist elements that fan anti-Hindu sentiments in the country,” USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza said.
Images circulated on social media catalyzed violent protests and incidents of vandalism at Hindu temples across Bangladesh.
“We are especially disturbed by the widespread attacks and desecration of Hindu places of worship,” stated USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava. “The communal violence has left hundreds injured and a few reportedly killed. USCIRF urges the Bangladeshi government to safeguard the rights and security of Hindus and all religious communities in the country and hold the perpetrators of these gruesome attacks responsible.”
Despite constitutional protections for religious freedom, the country’s religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, have continued to face various challenges to their freedom of religion or belief. Among them are the introduction and enforcement of the Digital Security Act with provisions that criminalize blasphemy; ongoing problems with the legacy of the Vested Property Act; and challenges posed by the rise of religious extremism and local law enforcement.
USCIRF’s December 2020 report on the enforcement of blasphemy laws worldwide found that Bangladesh had the second highest number of incidents of mob violence surrounding allegations of blasphemy during the study period.
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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].
Additional Name(s): Slimane Bouhafs, سليمان بوحفص
Gender: Male
Current Location: Algiers
Perpetrator: Algeria
Ethnic Group: Amazigh
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 3 Years’ Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/25/2021
Date of Sentencing: December/16/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Doctrine) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Hate Speech Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism
Suleiman Bouhafs
Extra Bio Info:
Suleiman Bouhafs is imprisoned for his alleged expression about religion.
On August 25, 2021, three men in a black vehicle abducted Bouhafs – Chairman of the St. Augustine Coordination of Christians in Algeria which defends minority rights and freedom of religion in the country – in broad daylight from his home in Tunisia. Bouhafs's whereabouts were unknown for four days.
On August 29, 2021, Bouhafs's family learned that he was no longer in Tunisia and was instead being held in a police station in Algiers, Algeria.
On September 1, 2021, Bouhafs appeared before a judge and was remanded in prison on various charges, including insulting the Prophet Muhammad and several terrorism-related offenses.
On December 16, 2022, an Algiers court sentenced Bouhafs to three years in prison and fined him 100,000 dinars for an alleged association with the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK), which is classified as a terrorist group by the Algerian authorities. Bouhafs denies any involvement with the MAK group. During his December 2022 court hearing, Bouhafs shared details of his August 2021 abduction from Tunisia alleging that his abductors violently put a bag over his head, subjected him to torture, and drove him across the border to a police station in Algiers.
On July 4, 2023, a court of appeal in Algiers confirmed Bouhafs's three-year prison sentence and fine from 2022 for multiple charges, including “belonging to a terrorist organization;” “receiving funds from abroad for the purpose of political propaganda;” “hate speech and discrimination;” “use of technology to spread false information;” and “conspiracy."
Bouhafs originally served prison time for previous blasphemy-related offenses. On September 6, 2016, he was sentenced to three years in prison for “offending the Prophet” and “denigrating the creed and precepts of Islam” (Art.144 bis 2 APC). In 2018, Bouhafs was pardoned and released from prison. He subsequently fled to Tunisia where he held UNHCR-recognized refugee status following his release from prison.
Sources:
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"Court of Appeal Confirms the Three-Year Prison Sentence of Human Rights Defenders" Frontline Defenders
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UN Special Rapporteurs Communication September 20, 2021
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"Algeria/Tunisia: Christian Political Refugee Abducted, Disappeared, Repatriated to Home Country for Likely Prosecution" Jubilee Campaign
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"Algerian refugee deported from Tunisia now imprisoned in Algeria" Amnesty International
Oct 20, 2021
USCIRF Releases Report Highlighting Religious Freedom Violations against Muslims in Africa
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious freedom violations against Muslims living in Africa:
Violations against Muslims in Africa Factsheet – This report documents trends in religious freedom violations against Muslims during the last two years. While many Muslims in Africa practice their faith in peace and harmony, some Muslims have been denied their freedom of religion or belief across the region. Violators include state governments (in both Muslim- and Christian-majority countries) as well as nonstate actors. The factsheet provides illustrative examples of state persecution of Muslim minorities in Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Eritrea; attacks on Muslim leaders and houses of worship; and targeting of Muslims in the context of political conflict in Africa.
In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department designate Nigeria and Eritrea as Countries of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating ongoing, systematic, and egregious violations of international religious freedom. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department place Egypt and Algeria on its Special Watch List and designate Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province, Islamic State in Greater Sahara, Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen, and al-Shabaab as Entities of Particular Concern.
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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].