Oct 18, 2021
USCIRF Releases New Report about Persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims in several countries.
Ahmadiyya Persecution Factsheet – This factsheet documents and contextualizes recent religious freedom violations against Ahmadiyya Muslims, shining a light on the worrying trend of growing state persecution of members of this community. Ahmadiyya Muslims face persecution and discrimination in a range of Muslim-majority countries, including Algeria, Pakistan, and Malaysia, the three examples highlighted in this factsheet. In these countries, authorities have targeted Ahmadis through hate speech and speech inciting violence against them, denied them citizenship, restricted their rights to worship, and prosecuted them for practicing their faith, including by charging and convicting them of blasphemy. Some states prohibit Ahmadis from declaring their faith publicly, criminalize them for identifying as Muslim, and prohibit them from calling their houses of worship mosques. States have also tolerated violence and hate speech against Ahmadis from nonstate actors.
In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S State Department designate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department place Algeria and Malaysia on its Special Watchlist for severe violations of religious freedom.
###
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 threats to 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): Ulugbek Ismoilovich Nasimov
Gender: Male
Current Location: CEP 64/14, Olmaliq, Tashkent
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment + 7 Years' Imprisonment + 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: May//2005
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Ulugbek Nasimov
Extra Bio Info:
Ulugbek Nasimov is imprisoned for his religious activity.
In May 2005, the Samarkand Region Court sentenced Nasimov to five years in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
In 2008, the Qarshi City Court reportedly sentenced Nasimov to an additional seven years in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
In 2011, Nasimov was reportedly sentenced to an additional eight years on unspecified charges at CEP 64/25 in Karaulbazar.
Nasimov is currently being held in CEP 64/14 in Olmaliq, Tashkent.
Sources:
Additional Name(s): Nurmukhammad Odiljonovich Mamadjonov
Gender: Male
Current Location: CEP 64/14, Olmaliq, Tashkent
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment + 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment + 18 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: October//1999
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Nurmukhammad Mamadjonov
Extra Bio Info:
Nurmukhammad Mamadjonov is imprisoned in relation to his religious belief and activity.
In October 1999, the Margilon City Court sentenced Mamadjonov to six years and six months in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC. The date of his arrest was unspecified.
On an unspecified date, Mamadjonov was sentenced to an additional three years and six months.
On an unspecified date, Mamadjonov was sentenced to an additional 18 years for "organizing a criminal group" (Art. 242 UCC), “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC), and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
Mamadjonov is currently being held in CEP 64/14 in Olmaliq, Tashkent.