WASHINGTON -- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), an independent and bipartisan federal agency, yesterday released a
series of new reports on the status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia,
Afghanistan, Vietnam, Russia, Laos, and Belarus. The reports contain policy
recommendations for the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
USCIRF Chair Felice D. Gaer said, "Advancing human rights and religious
freedom has not yet been a public feature of the US-Saudi bilateral
relationship. Our goal in releasing this Annual Report on religious freedom has
been to highlight that the protection of religious freedom and other human
rights must be an integral part of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and other
countries."
Saudi Arabia: The U.S. government needs to identify human rights problems in
Saudi Arabia and publicly acknowledge that they are significant issues in the
bilateral relationship. USCIRF recommendations include the following:
Investigate Saudi government
funding of the global propagation of a religious ideology that promotes hate,
intolerance, and in some cases violence. Congress should authorize and fund
such a study and the U.S. government should urge the Saudis to cease any
funding efforts. Use leverage to encourage implementation of reforms in Saudi
Arabia including naming Saudi Arabia a "country of particular
concern" and expanding human rights assistance, public diplomacy and other
programs. Press for immediate improvements in respect for religious freedom, including
dissolving the mutawaa and permitting non-Wahhabi places of worship in certain
areas. Hold biannual hearings in Congress for the State Department to report on
religious freedom issues raised with Saudi Arabia and that government's
response, as well as on the Department's plan for expanding initiatives to
advance human rights in Saudi Arabia. Ensure that any existing restrictions on
the religious practice of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel be lifted
permanently. Investigate reports that some U.S. companies in Saudi Arabia
engage in practices that constitute or facilitate discrimination or violations
of religious freedom or other human rights.
Afghanistan: There are continuing reports of serious human rights abuses, reported
efforts to circumscribe human rights in Afghanistan's new constitution, and
indications that Afghanistan in being reconstructed -- without serious U.S.
opposition -- as a state in which an extreme interpretation of Sharia would be
enforced by a government which the United States supports and with which our
nation is closely identified. USCIRF recommendations include the following:
Appoint a high-ranking
official to the U.S Embassy in Kabul to advance human rights. Expand the
international security presence beyond Kabul and end U.S. support for warlords.
Urge the Karzai administration to abolish religious police. Expand programs to
inform Afghans about human rights. Fully fund the human rights programming
envisioned in the Afghan Freedom Support Act of 2002.
Vietnam: Since Congress passed the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in
September 2001, the already poor religious freedom conditions in Vietnam have
deteriorated. USCIRF recommendations include the following: Make clear to the
government of Vietnam that cessation of religious freedom violations is
essential to continued expansion of bilateral relations.
Designate Vietnam as a
"country of particular concern." Pass the Vietnam Human Rights Act of
2003 in Congress. Withhold support for non-humanitarian loans to Vietnam from international
financial institutions until substantial improvements are made in the
protection of religious freedom. Review the Vietnamese government's human
rights practices as part of the annual review of the Jackson-Vanik waiver for
Vietnam. Overcome jamming of Radio Free Asia broadcasts and blockage of the RFA
Internet site.
Russia: An attempt is underway on the part of elements within the Russian
government, aided or perhaps encouraged by the Russian Orthodox Church, to curb
religious freedom further and bring the religious practice of Russian citizens
under the closer control and tutelage of the state. USCIRF recommendations
include the following:
Raise concern about the
growing influence of undemocratic forces on Russian government policies. Oppose
attempts to rollback religious freedom and urge protection of religious
minorities against violent attacks and intolerance. Remain vigilant on the
progress of Democratic reform and protections for human rights in Russia,
reinstate the Smith Amendment, and ensure that a monitoring mechanism be in
place should Congress graduate Russia from Jackson-Vanik. Support those who
advance democracy, religious freedom, and other human rights.
Laos: Laos is at an important crossroads between those who advocate that the
country follow the model of China and Vietnam, and those who seek to modernize
the country by learning from the United States and other Western democracies
that respect human rights. USCIRF recommendations include the following:
Designate Laos a
"country of particular concern" to make clear U.S. concerns over particularly
severe violations of religious freedom. Establish a bilateral human rights
dialogue with measurable goals to eliminate violations. Provide assistance to
Laos to take steps to reform its practices, policies, laws, and regulations
that contribute to religious freedom violations, if the Laos government
demonstrates a genuine commitment to change, beginning with a State Department
assessment of the human rights needs in Laos.
Belarus: In October 2002, President Alexandr Lukashenko signed new legislation
on religion that further restricts religious freedom in Belarus. The law has
been called the most repressive religious law in Europe. USCIRF recommendations
include the following: Use every measure of diplomacy to advance the protection
of human rights and religious freedom, including enhanced monitoring and public
reporting, especially in light of the weakened monitoring mandate of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Adopt the Belarus
Democracy Act of 2003 in Congress. Raise religious freedom and other human
rights concerns in Belarus with Russian government officials, because of the
special relationship that exists between the two countries.
Felice D. Gaer, Chair Dean Michael K. Young, Vice Chair Firuz Kazemzadeh
Richard Land Bishop William F. Murphy Leila Nadya Sadat Nina Shea Hon. Charles
R. Stith Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive
Director
Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov
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