Dec 6, 2022
USCIRF Releases Report on Blasphemy Charges in Turkey
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report:
Blasphemy Charges in Turkey – This report reviews Turkey’s continued criminalization of blasphemy under Article 216(3) of the Turkish Penal Code, which permits a prison sentence ranging from six months to one year for an individual “who openly insults the religious values of a section of the public.” The Turkish government’s use of this article is generally politically motivated and seeks to penalize individuals perceived to have insulted or mocked Islam, or to intimidate or retaliate against critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), or others associated with the current government. The report concludes by highlighting select recent cases of individuals and entities that have faced criminal blasphemy charges.
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State include Turkey on its Special Watch List for engaging in severe violations of religious freedom. USCIRF staff visited the country in March 2022 and discussed findings from that trip in an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast.
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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): Умеров Шабан Изетович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 18 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: March/10/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Shaban Umerov
Extra Bio Info:
Shaban Umerov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Umerov, an activist from the Crimean Solidarity movement, after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities searched the homes of several activists and allegedly confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir materials. Umerov was charged with "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Umerov to 18 years in prison.
On March 28, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Umerov's sentence.
merov has three children.
Related Cases: Remzi Bakirov, Riza Izetov, Farkhod Bazarov, Raim Ayvazov
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
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USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
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"Суд утвердил приговор пятерым фигурантам второго симферопольского дела «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" SOVA Center
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"Another Group Of Crimean Tatars Given Lengthy Prison Terms In Russia" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
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"Умеров Шабан Изетович" Memorial Human Rights Center
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"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
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"Crimean Tatar journalist faces 15-year sentence for ‘planning to overthrow the Russian regime’ with book on being alone with God" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
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"Суд продлил Энверу Аметову срок содержания под стражей в СИЗО и отклонил апелляцию защиты" Crimean Solidarity
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2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ukraine - Crimea U.S. Department of State
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"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
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"The FSB is making a large number of arrests in an attempt to close down the Crimean Tatars’ human rights movement" Memorial Human Rights Center
Dec 14
Dec 14th 10:30am
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Dec 14th 12:00pm
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
China’s Religious Freedom Violations: Domestic Repression and Malign Influence Abroad
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
10:30am-12:00pm ET
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on China’s religious freedom violations. The hearing explored two interrelated aspects: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government’s violations of religious freedom and repression of religious communities, in country and abroad. In addition, the hearing highlighted China’s malign foreign influence through lobbying efforts in the United States, which has had religious freedom implications.
Witnesses provided overviews on the Chinese government’s religious freedom violations affecting various religious communities in China and overseas, as well as policy recommendations for countering the Chinese government’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.
- Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Senate (R-Florida)
Recorded Remarks - Nury Turkel, Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks - Abraham Cooper, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks - Frank Wolf, Commissioner, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Panel
- Yaqiu Wang, Senior China Researcher, Human Rights Watch
Written Testimony - Bhuchung K. Tsering, Interim President, International Campaign for Tibet
Written Testimony - Louisa Greve, Director of Global Advocacy, Uyghur Human Rights Project
Written Testimony - Bob Fu, Ph.D., President and Founder, ChinaAid Association
Written Testimony - Zack Smith, Legal Fellow, Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, Heritage Foundation
Written Testimony
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 Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected] or (202) 702-2778.