The release of the 2011 annual report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) shows that freedom of religion continues to be under attack in many countries, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leader on human rights issues in Congress. The Obama Administration must give higher priority to the protection and promotion of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy, he said.
“Religious freedom is threatened around the world, and the situation is getting worse,” Smith said. “Two years ago eight countries were recommended for designation as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’; this year we are looking at 14 countries. The basic human rights of hundreds of millions of people are being violated. Their own governments are either direct perpetrators of religious freedom violations or fail to prosecute violations by other citizens, creating a climate of impunity.”
Smith is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights in the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) and a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
“The USCIRF 2011 report shows that U.S. leadership on religious freedom is desperately needed,” Smith said. This leadership vacuum has been partially due to the lack of an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom since the beginning of the Administration—a position filled only this month by Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook.
“I am very hopeful that the Administration will fully integrate Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook into the formulation of U.S. foreign policy, equipping her with the full staff she needs and access to the Secretary of State.
“The importance of promoting all components of religious freedom cannot be overstated,” Smith said. “Not only is it a moral imperative, but religious freedom keeps extremism and tyranny at bay.”
USCIRF is a non-partisan federal agency whose Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of the Congress to ensure that religious freedom plays a central role in U.S. foreign policy. Smith chaired the committee hearings that prepared the passage of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) signed into law by President Clinton, which created the Commission. Commissioners make recommendations to the Administration, the U.S. State Department and members of Congress regarding ways in which U.S. policy can promote religious freedom in nations USCIRF identifies as the world’s worst abusers.
The USCIRF 2011 Annual Report details abuse in 28 countries. USCIRF recommends that the Secretary of State designate the following countries with the most serious designation, “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC): Burma, the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, the People‘s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
“As a result of severe and systematic religious freedom abuses against religious minorities, particularly Coptic Christians, before and after the removal of President Mubarak, the Commission is for the first time recommending that Egypt be designated as a CPC,” said Smith. “The Obama Administration has yet to make any CPC designations since coming to office; I encourage the Administration to review carefully the recommendations made by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and to apply real sanctions.”
On Vietnam, where Smith has traveled and met with religious dissidents, the report cites the government’s continued control over approved religious practices while severely repressing the activities of various religious groups including Protestant Christians and Buddhists. Between 2004-2006, when Vietnam was designated a CPC, Vietnam expanded some religious protections, released prisoners, and prohibited the forced renunciation of faith. Since the premature removal of the CPC designation, however, Vietnam has regressed to its former ways, sanctioning violence, forcing the renunciation of faith, arbitrarily arresting, detaining, and sentencing religious leaders, confiscating church properties, and severely restricting all religious activities.
China has continued its massive persecution of religious adherents. The report notes that the situation of Tibetan Buddhists and Uighur Muslims, in particular, has become more dire in the last reporting cycle. Moreover, China has cracked down on human rights defenders who protect vulnerable religious groups—detaining and torturing them, stripping them of their licenses to practice law. Many have simply “disappeared.”
“It is time for the Obama Administration to take decisive action against China, imposing new sanctions that target officials who perpetuate religious freedom abuses and provinces where religious freedom conditions are most egregious,” said Smith. “The Administration must also ensure that human rights are an integral part of any agreements at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic dialogue. We cannot and must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities of one of the largest economies in the world.”
