Feb 16, 2023

USCIRF Expresses Concern for the Integrity of Religious Sites in Jerusalem Area

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterates the importance of ensuring freedom of worship and maintaining the integrity of religious sites in Jerusalem and surrounding areas amid ongoing conflict. In the wake of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s visit to the region, USCIRF urges the U.S. government to continue to seek assurances for freedom of religious practice and worship pursuant to status quo agreements.

Recent attacks at sites of religious significance in and around Jerusalem restrict religious freedom for people of many different faiths. We hope that as Ramadan, Passover, and Easter approach, all houses of worship will be respected,” said USCIRF Commissioner Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum. “The U.S. government must continue to urge officials in the region to hold accountable the perpetrators of criminal acts at religious sites, and work actively to counter influential political voices inciting religious prejudice and violence that negatively impacts religious practice and worship.

There have been numerous attacks on churches, mosques, and synagogues over the past couple of years. In recent months, USCIRF has noted an uptick in the targeting of houses of worship and religious sites. These include Israeli settlers shattering windows of the Bab al-Zaqiya and al-Sadeq mosques in Hebron; two teenagers desecrating 50 graves in a Christian cemetery on Mount Zion; a terrorist opening fire on worshippers on the Jewish Sabbath near a synagogue in Neve Yaakov killing seven people and wounding at least three; and a man vandalizing a statue of Jesus at the Church of the Flagellation in Jerusalem’s Old City.

These recent incidents targeting religious sites and worshipers are devastating. They risk further escalating a situation in which political violence and terrorism preclude people from safely manifesting their religion or beliefs. We are especially concerned over safety amid the uptick of violence in Jerusalem and surrounding areas,” said USCIRF Commissioner David Curry. “The U.S. government should stress that the existence of political conflict does not diminish the universal protections of Article 18 to freedom of religion or belief for people of all faiths and beliefs, and express this concern in bilateral discussions.”

In 2019, USCIRF published a factsheet on protecting houses of worship and holy sites, noting that places of worship and other religious sites should be sanctuaries where worshippers feel safe to practice their faith. In 2021, USCIRF published a factsheet on the religious freedom implications of the destruction of cemeteries.

###

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): Alimardon Sultonov, Алимардон Султонов

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Uzbekistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/18/2022

Date of Sentencing: May/27/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Freedom Advocacy

Nature of Charges: Assault & Battery Hate Speech Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Unlawful Disobedience Vandalism & Destruction of Property

Alimardon Sultanov

Extra Bio Info:

Alimardon Sultanov is imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On January 18, 2022, authorities arrested Sultanov, who was known for discussing religious freedom issues, for criticizing President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, state-appointed imams and other government officials. He was reportedly charged with “distributing or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order using mass media or telecommunication, or the Internet” (Art. 244-1.3), "threat of killing or of violence" (Art. 112-3 UCC), “incitement of ethnic, racial, or religious hatred” (Art. 156-2 UCC), "intentional destruction of or damage to property committed in a dangerous way" (Art. 173-2(b) UCC), and “resistance to a government official or a person performing a civic duty” (Art. 219-2 UCC). Sultanov said that he was tortured after being arrested in an effort to coerce an admission of guilt. 

On May 27, 2022, a court in Karakalpakstan sentenced Sultanov to seven years in prison.

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Uzbekistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/22/2020

Date of Sentencing: November/27/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Appearance Religious Freedom Advocacy Women’s Rights

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Tulkun Astanov

Extra Bio Info:

Tulkun Astanov is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On November 22, 2020, authorities arrested Astanov, a religious freedom advocate, after he protested in front of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's house, calling for the release of an imprisoned Qur'an reciter.

On November 27, 2020, the Tashkent's Uchteppa District Criminal Court sentenced Astanov to five years in prison after prosecutors argued Astanov violated the terms of his probation. In October 2019, the Tashkent City Criminal Court imposed a five year suspended sentence on Astanov for visiting the state-controlled Muslim Board to discuss restrictions on Muslims' freedom of religion and belief such as the ban on religious veiling. He was reportedly charged with “distributing or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order using mass media or telecommunication, or the Internet” (Art. 244-1.3 UCC). In April 2019, Astanov was sentenced to 15 days in prison for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On January 5, 2021, the Tashkent City Criminal Court rejected Astanov's appeal.

Prison authorities have reportedly banned Astanov from reading the Qur'an and praying the namaz.