Additional Name(s): Óscar Danilo Benavidez Dávila
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/14/2022
Date of Sentencing: January/24/2023
Date of Release: February/9/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Oscar Benavidez was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.
On August 14, 2022, authorities reportedly arrested Benavidez, a priest, after he performed mass. Benavidez regularly condemned "injustices" committed by the government. During the mass prior to his arrest, he mentioned the persecution of the prophets. His arrest came amid a crackdown on Catholic religious figures and institutions throughout the country.
On January 16, 2023, the Tenth Court of the Criminal Trial District of Managua found Benavidez guilty of “conspiracy to undermine national security and sovereignty” and “spreading fake news.” Prosecutors requested that Benavidez be sentenced to eight years in prison.
On January 24, 2023, Benavidez was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On February 9, 2023, Benavidez was released from prison and exiled to the United States.
"Release of Political Prisoners from Nicaragua" Secretary Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State
"Estos son los presos políticos desterrados a EE. UU." La Prensa
"Otro sacerdote nicaragüense es condenado por Daniel Ortega" Deutsche Welle (DW)
"Meet the priest the Nicaraguan dictatorship wants to put away for eight years" Catholic News Agency (CNA)
"Nicaraguan priest found guilty, sentenced to eight years in prison for ‘conspiracy’" Catholic News Agency (CNA)
"Dictadura orteguista declara culpable al sacerdote Óscar Benavidez" La Prensa
"Sacerdote Oscar Benavídez ya fue acusado por la Fiscalía. Aún se desconoce su supuesto delito" La Prensa
Additional Name(s): Hani Farouk Gibran, هاني فاروق جبران
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Egypt
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Health Concerns: Arm infection
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/4/2022
Date of Release: September/13/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity
Nature of Charges: Immorality Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Hani Gibran was detained for criticizing religious freedom conditions.
On June 4, 2022, police arrested Gibran after he posted about the targeting of the Coptic Christian community on social media. In one post, Gibran wrote "No to attacks on churches in Egypt, burning homes and kidnapping girls.” He was charged with spreading false news and rumors, assaulting Egyptian family values, and managing a private account to commit crimes.
In August 2022, Gibran was reportedly taken to the hospital following an infection in his arm.
On September 13, 2022, Gibran was released on bail.
"الافراج عن المحامى القبطى هانى فاروق بكفالة 2000 جنيه" Copts Today
المبادرة المصرية للحقوق الشخصية, Tweet, September 13, 2022
"محكمة جنح مستأنف مدینة نصر تمدد أمر حبس المحامي هاني جبران في واقعة نشر عن "خطف" عدد من المسیحیات" Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
Feb 1, 2023
USCIRF Calls for Accountability of Tatmadaw at Two Year Anniversary of Coup in Burma
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today marked the second anniversary of the military coup in Burma that overthrew the quasi-democratic civilian government. To date, the military coup has led to the death of around 3,000 civilians as well as the destruction of villages and houses of worship in various parts of the country. The Burmese military, known as the Tatmadaw, and the State Administrative Council (SAC)—which it established to run the country—have specifically targeted ethnic and religious minorities as part of a broad crackdown on dissent.
“It has been two years since the coup and we have yet to see the SAC brought to justice for the Rohingya genocide and myriad abuses of religious freedom and human rights,” stated USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland. “The Biden administration must be more active in support for international efforts to hold the Tatmadaw and the Burmese authorities accountable with all tools at their disposal, including coordinated sanctions against Tatmadaw leaders for particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”
On February 1, 2021, before they lost power to the democratically elected government, the Tatmadaw overthrew the Burmese government. Its subsequent seizure of government institutions and the resulting chaos has led to the deaths of thousands and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. It has also prevented refugees, many of whom have fled religious persecution since the Tatmadaw’s genocidal campaign starting in 2017, from repatriating to Burma. As the SAC has increased its sponsorship of extremist factions within the Buddhist majority, the return of over a million Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and throughout Southeast Asia is highly unlikely while it remains in power.
“USCIRF stands in solidarity with the people of Burma who have endured great suffering in these two years since the coup,” said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid. “We urge the U.S. government to continue to coordinate with international partners to hold the SAC accountable for its human rights abuses within Burma, especially its persecution of the Buddhist majority who do not want the authoritarian government to coopt their faith, the predominately Muslim Rohingya, and various Christian communities.”
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State redesignate Burma as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). USCIRF also recently published a Burma Policy Update on the repercussions of the 2021 Burma coup, elaborating on religious freedom conditions in Burma and providing recommendations to the U.S. government.
USCIRF will be hosting a hearing next week on Burma following two years of rule by the military junta and its impact on religious freedom conditions.
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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 or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].