Religious Prisoners Suffer Mistreatment & Torture at the Hands of Foreign Governments

Religious Prisoners Suffer Mistreatment & Torture at the Hands of Foreign Governments

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on prison mistreatment and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB):

Prison Mistreatment and FoRB - This factsheet describes religious freedom restrictions in prisons abroad. Government imprisonment of individuals on the basis of their religion or belief is often both coercive and violent. FoRB prisoners are detained, placed into confinement, and disconnected from their families and religious communities because of their beliefs. Governments deliberately use mistreatment as a strategy to demoralize and disavow religious dissidents of their beliefs or the expression of these beliefs. Reports of mistreatment in prison have a chilling effect on disfavored religious communities outside of prisons as well. This factsheet describes FoRB restrictions in select prisons, noting affected individuals and religious communities.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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].