DUSHANBE, June 3, 2009, Asia-Plus — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) will continue its efforts to promote improvement of Tajikistan’s new religion law, Ms. Katherine Kosman, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRF, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on June 2.
She noted that the USCIRF last month criticized Tajikistan’s new religion law as imperfect and restrictive and the country’s authorities have not yet responded to the criticism so far.
According to her, after adoption of the new religion law Tajikistan’s was put on the USCIRF black list of violators of religious freedom. Among countries put on this list are also Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Ms. Kosman named ban on hijab in educational facilities, banning women from attending schools and demolition of mosques as factors that had contributed to putting Tajikistan on the black list of violators of religious freedom.
Ms. Kosman also noted that during her stay in Tajikistan, she plans to hold talks with clerics and representatives of appropriate government institutions. She expressed hope for successful dialogue with them. “We will try to come to an immediate explanation with your authorities on these topical issues,” she said.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is a US government agency based in Washington, DC. This federal bipartisan body was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments. It gives independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress. In gathering information to formulate those recommendations, the Commissioners or staff may meet with foreign officials and diplomats. Such meetings are always coordinated with the State Department. Commissioners are selected for their expertise, not because they represent specific religious communities. Under the IRFA, three Commissioners are selected by the President, four by the congressional leaders of the party not in the White House, and two by the leaders of the President”s party in Congress. Currently they are appointed for two years. Commissioners are eligible for reappointment. Within the law, the five different appointing authorities work to provide for a diverse group of Commissioners.
