FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2011

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) strongly condemns the coordinated raids by Iranian authorities this weekend on numerous Baha'i homes and the arrests of more than a dozen Baha'is who have been part of an effort to provide higher education to Baha'i youth because they are prevented from attending universities in Iran.

"The Iranian government will stop at nothing in its shameless persecution of the Baha'is in Iran,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. "It's not enough that authorities already have a policy in place preventing Baha'is from attending Iranian universities-the government is now systematically trying to dismantle the Baha'i community"s internal initiative to ensure that its youth have the opportunity to get an education beyond high school,” said Mr. Leo.

On Saturday, in at least four different cities throughout the country, Iranian authorities raided approximately 30 homes of Baha"is who were part of the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), a 24 year-old effort by the Baha'i community to educate its youth because the Iranian government does not permit Baha'is to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies. Reportedly, more than a dozen Baha'is have been arrested and a number of books, documents, computers, and other materials associated with the BIHE have been seized by Iranian authorities. It has been more than 10 years since Iranian authorities conducted a similar campaign against the BIHE.

"Iranian authorities continue to hold the Baha'i community's seven leaders in Iranian prisons and now, with these arrests, the number of Baha'is currently imprisoned is approaching 100, a number not seen in more than two decades," said Mr. Leo. "The United States and international community must aggressively speak out and condemn such actions and pressure the Iranian government to allow the new Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran to investigate this and other blatant violations,” said Mr. Leo.

Since 1999, the U.S. State Department has designated Iran as a "country of particular concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. USCIRF has recommended in 2011 that Iran again be designated as a CPC. In its annual report issued last month, USCIRF urged the U.S. government to continue to sanction Iranian government agencies and officials responsible for particularly severe violations of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. To date, travel bans and asset freezes have been imposed by the U.S. government on 10 Iranian officials.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC -The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed its concern over the demolition of the 200-year-old Greek Orthodox Chapel of Saint Thekla in the village of Vokolida, in the area of the Republic of Cyprus under the control of the Turkish troops and administered by Turkish Cypriot authorities. The church was demolished on May 2, 2011. USCIRF calls on local Turkish Cypriot authorities to commit to rebuild the church.

"Local Turkish Cypriot authorities have generally failed to take adequate measures to protect religious places of worship from vandals and looters." said USCIRF Chair, Leonard Leo. "Allowing the demolition of the Saint Thekla chapel exemplifies the ongoing disrespect and violations by Turkish troops and local Turkish Cypriot authorities for the religious freedom and heritage of Greek Orthodox and other religious minority communities in the northern part of Cyprus," continued Mr. Leo.

A USCIRF delegation travelled to northern Cyprus in February 2011 and saw firsthand the decrepit state of numerous Christian Orthodox churches caused by a prohibition on religious minority groups against repairing their places of worship.

The bulldozer operator and an employee of the construction company, Exsen, have been arrested, and the "special advisor for foreign affairs" to Turkish Cypriot leader Dervi' Ero'lu, Kudret Ozersay, has condemned the demolition. Reportedly, the Turkish Cypriot authorities" "department of antiquities and museums" was directed to reconstruct the chapel.

Mr. Leo concluded, "While USCIRF welcomes these actions, local Turkish Cypriot authorities must take proactive steps to protect the hundreds of other churches in northern Cyprus, including those that are in disrepair and are on the verge of collapsing. Also, local Turkish Cypriot authorities should ensure the expeditious reconstruction of the church, in consultation with the Church of Cyprus and in accordance with traditional religious and cultural architecture, as appropriate for a Greek Orthodox Church, as well as appropriately sanction the construction company. Finally, the Turkish military and local Turkish Cypriot authorities should eliminate restrictions on the access and use of their religious sites and places of worship in the north; this means putting an end to ongoing limitations imposed by requirements to submit written applications by minority religious communities and their religious leaders."

Further, as reported in USCIRF 2011 Annual Report, access to religious places of worship within and outside Turkish military bases and zones in northern Cyprus is seriously limited by the Turkish military and local Turkish Cypriot authorities. Religious minority communities and their religious leaders must submit applications through the UN and be given permission by local Turkish Cypriot authorities to administer religious services, including Divine Liturgies, at most churches in northern Cyprus. As recently as April 2011, the Bishop Christoforos of Karpasia was prohibited from administering the Easter liturgy at the Holy Temple of Saint Synesios in Rizokarpaso village. Also, the Bishop Porfyrios of Neapolis and Father Savvas Hadjionas were prohibited from celebrating the April 25th Divine Liturgy at the Holy Temple of Saint George at the Vatili village. The two bishops and the priest had submitted applications through the UN, in full accordance and in ample time, for local Turkish Cypriot authorities to review and approve their applications. However, the applications were denied without explanation.

USCIRF's 2011 Annual Report also recommended that the U.S. government should:

• urge the Turkish government to allow religious communities living in the Republic of Cyprus and religious minority communities living in northern Cyprus access to (including rights to restore, maintain, and utilize) religious sites, places of worship, and cemeteries that are located within the borders of Turkish military bases and zones in northern Cyprus;
• urge the Turkish government and/or Turkish Cypriot authorities to abandon all restrictions on the access and use of churches and other places of worship, including requiring applications for permission to hold religious services;
• urge the Turkish Cypriot authorities and Turkish military to return all religious places of worship and cemeteries to their rightful owners; cease any ongoing desecration and destruction of Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian Orthodox, and Jewish religious properties; and cease using any such religious sites as stables, military storage sites, vehicle repair shops, and public entertainment venues or any other non-religious purpose;
• urge the Turkish government and/or the Turkish Cypriot authorities to permit the restoration of St. Andreas monastery and other churches located in northern Cyprus;
• urge the Turkish government and/or the Turkish Cypriot authorities to return Christian religious iconography and other religious art that is in the hands of Turkish Cypriot authorities and that remain in churches to their rightful owners; and
• urge the Turkish Cypriot authorities to provide a full list of catalogued religious artifacts and to allow access by UNESCO authorities, if UNESCO deems it appropriate and necessary to review such materials under possession of the Turkish Cypriot authorities and/or Turkish military.

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.

sf10880"