Dec 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Iraqi Christians face a new round of violence this Christmas season, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued this statement:
"The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom calls for increased protection of Iraqi Christians, particularly in Mosul and the north, as well as other minority religious groups” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "USCIRF calls on the Iraqi government to investigate and bring to justice those who have already perpetrated and planned this most recent round of violence.”
Today, bombs exploded in front of the Syrian Orthodox church of St. Thomas and the Chaldean church of St. George in Mosul. The death toll so far is of three dead - a Chaldean Christian and two Muslims. Other media report that on December 15, a Christian baby was killed and 40 persons injured as three bombs were detonated simultaneously targeting Christian churches. On December 17, an Iraqi Christian was killed as he traveled to work. In the last 45 days, four Mosul churches have been attacked. By some estimates, three-quarters of all the Christians in Iraq have fled since 2003, and as the violence targeting them continues, many fear the time will come when there will be no Christians left in Iraq.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected] or (202) 523-3257.
Dec 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2009
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the new parole guidelines for asylum seekers in Expedited Removal just issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. USCIRF will closely monitor the directive"s implementation to ensure that bona fide asylum seekers are not unduly detained.
"Asylum seekers fleeing persecution should not be confined like criminals in prison-like conditions simply for seeking freedom in the United States,” said USCIRF chair Leonard Leo. "We welcome the new directive and encourage ICE to ensure consistent and fair implementation so that the maximum number of asylum seekers are released. In our 2005 congressionally authorized Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal, USCIRF called for such a policy. We are pleased that ICE"s guidelines begin to address some of our recommendations. ”
Under the new directive, parole may be granted once asylum seekers establish credible fear, identity, community ties, and that they are not security risks. However, ICE also will consider "exceptional, overriding factors” in their parole determinations. The directive also establishes procedures for informing all asylum seekers of their right to request parole, documenting parole decisions, and reviewing and reporting on adjudications.
"USCIRF welcomes these revised procedures and urges that they be implemented thoroughly and consistently nationwide, as well as that the ‘overriding factors" be narrowly construed so as not to detain asylum seekers wrongly,” said commissioner Felice Gaer. "Consistent implementation is a key to success here. USCIRF"s 2005 study found that parole guidelines then being used were inconsistently applied nationwide and never issued as regulations.”
For example, New Orleans released only 0.5 percent of asylum seekers, New Jersey less than four percent, and New York eight percent. Yet San Antonio released 94 percent of asylum seekers and Chicago 81 percent. USCIRF recommended to the Department of Homeland Security that the 1997 parole guidelines be codified into regulations. In 2007, ICE issued a parole directive which contradicted USCIRF"s recommendation. The new directive supersedes the 2007 directive.
"These new guidelines are an important first step in overhauling the United States" deeply flawed detention system. But more needs to be done both by the agency and in Congress. A bill pending in Congress, the Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act (S. 1594) is still needed to help ensure that asylum seekers are not detained for long periods of time and are treated in accordance with U.S. law,” said commissioner Michael Cromartie.
The Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal identified serious flaws in the implementation of Expedited Removal that placed asylum seekers at risk of being returned to countries where they may face persecution, as well as in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in detention.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF"s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected], or (202) 523-3257.
Dec 22, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2009
Though disappointed that the UN General Assembly has again passed a resolution urging countries to outlaw the so-called "defamation of religions,” the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the fact that support in the world body for this pernicious idea continues to decline.
"Thankfully, more countries are recognizing that these resolutions seek to create a global blasphemy law, which would promote intolerance and human rights violations,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "Instead of addressing the very real problems of religious persecution and discrimination around the world, these resolutions exacerbate them,” continued Mr. Leo. "In countries that have blasphemy laws, like Pakistan, these laws result in gross abuses, particularly against religious minorities and dissenters.”
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has sponsored annual "defamation of religions” resolutions in the UN Human Rights Council or its predecessor the Human Rights Commission since 1999 and in the General Assembly since 2005. Although both bodies continue to adopt these resolutions, the votes in favor since March 2008 have decreased from an absolute majority of all present to a mere plurality of members. "This is the fourth consecutive time this issue has been considered that the ‘no-votes" and abstentions have outnumbered the ‘yes-votes,"” said Mr. Leo. "This year, the General Assembly vote was 80 in favor, 61 against, and 42 abstentions, down from 86-53-43 last year.”
"This positive trend is encouraging, and we urge the U.S. government to do more to ensure that more nations step up to the plate and vote ‘no" if this issue comes up again at the Human Rights Council in March,” concluded Mr. Leo. "Religious intolerance is best fought through education and other efforts to encourage respect for every individual's human rights, not through laws against blasphemy.”
For more information on this issue, see the recent USCIRF Policy Focus The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from "Defamation,” A Threat to Universal Human Rights Standards.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at [email protected], or (202) 523-3257.