Oct 27
Oct 27th 10:30am
-
Oct 27th 12:00pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Targeted Sanctions: Implications for International Religious Freedom
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Virtual Hearing
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing that will consider how the U.S. government can advance international religious freedom through targeted sanctions.
Through the 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the related 2017 executive order, E.O. 13818, the U.S. government can issue visa bans and asset freezes against foreign persons involved in “serious human rights abuses,” including violations of religious freedom. Visa bans are also possible through Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. These tools have been used to impose consequences on violators of religious freedom in a variety of contexts, including Burma, China, Iran, and Russia. These examples represent only a small percentage of the religious freedom violations occurring globally. A more effective targeted sanctions regimen can contribute to deterring religious freedom violators, holding perpetrators accountable, leading to a world where all are free to practice their religion or belief.
With legislative authority for Global Magnitsky sanctions expiring in 2022, the reauthorization process presents an opportunity to strengthen and expand targeted sanctions programs. Witnesses will explain how sanctions are utilized within the broader U.S. foreign policy strategy to address religious freedom violations and discuss ways to use these tools to curtail such violations.
- Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Written Remarks - Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Written Remarks - Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Written Remarks - Nadine Maenza, Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks - Nury Turkel, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Panel I
- Michael Weber, Analyst, Congressional Research Service
Written Testimony - Michael Breen, President and CEO, Human Rights First
Written Testimony - Justyna Gudzowska, Director of Illicit Finance Policy, The Sentry
Written Testimony - Annie Boyajian, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Freedom House
Written Testimony
Panel II
- Hon. Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
Written Testimony
Submitted for the Record:
Statement of Bhupindar Singh and Boota Singh Kharoudh
Statement of Armenian Assembly of America
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): Rakhmatjon Khusanovich Ernazarov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 9 Years' Imprisonment + 6 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment + 18 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: September/12/2000
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 Violating Prison Rules
Rakhmatjon Ernazarov
Extra Bio Info:
Rakhmatjon Ernazarov is imprisoned in relation to his religious belief and activity.
On September 12, 2000, the Fergana City Court sentenced Ernazarov to nine years in prison following a trial that included numerous due process violations. The exact charges and sentence were unspecified.
On an unspecified date, the Navoi Region Court sentenced Ernazarov to an additional six years and two months for "violating prison rules" (Art. 221 UCC).
On September 17, 2008, the Navoi Region Court sentenced Ernazarov to an additional 18 years in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC), "organizing a criminal group" (Art. 242 UCC), and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
Sources:
Additional Name(s): Mukhiddin Musaevich Jalolov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment + 18 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: December/29/1999
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Hate Speech Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Mukhiddin Jalolov
Extra Bio Info:
Mukhiddin Jalolov was imprisoned in relation to his religious belief and activity.
On an unspecified date, authorities arrested Jalolov amid mass arrests of Muslims following the February 1999 Tashkent terrorist attacks.
On December 29, 1999, the Namangan Region Court sentenced Jalolov to ten years in prison for “incitement of ethnic, racial, or religious hatred” (Art. 156 UCC) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
On September 17, 2008, the Navoi Region Court resentenced Jalolov to 18 years in prison for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC.
In September 2022, it was reported that Jalolov had been released.