Source: www.uscirf.gov
Date: November 23, 2021
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
USCIRF Conversation: Democracy and Religious Freedom
Thursday, December 2, 2021
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Event
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual event about intersection between democracy and religious freedom.
As the Biden Administration prepares to host its first Summit for Democracy, this event will highlight ongoing religious freedom issues facing two of the largest democracies in the world: India and Indonesia. Focusing on these case studies, the event will explore barriers these countries are facing in realizing full protection for freedom of religion and belief.
In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that India be designated a Country of Particular Concern and Indonesia be placed on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List. In India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has continued to implement policies that stifle civil society and pose severe challenges to freedom of religion or belief. Since Indonesia’s transition to democracy in 1998, blasphemy allegations have proliferated across the archipelago and the country enforces many laws and regulations that hinder faith communities from operating and building houses of worship.
USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and Commissioner Khizr Khan will be joined by guest panelists. USCIRF Supervisory Policy Analyst Kirsten Lavery will moderate the conversation followed by questions and answers from attendees.
Panelists
- Nadine Maenza, Chair, USCIRF
- Khizr Khan, Commissioner, USCIRF
Moderator
- Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF
This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact