U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report 2013 (Burma)

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report 2013

USCIRF 2013 Annual Report
USCIRF STATUS: TIER 1  Countries of Particular Concern —BURMA*
BOTTOM LINE:
Ongoing political reforms have yet to significantly improve the situation for freedom of religion and belief, as sectarian violence and severe abuses of religious freedom and human dignity targeting ethnic minority Christians and Muslims continue to occur with impunity.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: BURMA

BURMA Page 21| USCIRF 2013 Annual Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

FINDINGS:

Ongoing and important political reforms in Burma have yet to significantly improve the situation for freedom of religion

and belief. During the reporting period, most religious freedom violations occurred against et

hnic minority Christian and Muslim communities, with serious abuses against mainly Christian civilians during military interventions in Kachin State and sectarian violence by societal actors targeting Muslims in Rakhine (Arakan) State. In

addition, Buddhist monks suspected of anti-government activities were detained or removed from their pagodas, and at least eight monks remain imprisoned for participating in peaceful demonstrations. In addition to sometimes severe

restrictions on worship, education, and other religious activities and ceremonies, religious groups continue to face a range of problems, including: pervasive surveillance, imprisonment, discrimination, societal violence, destruction or

desecration of property, and censors hip of religious materials.

In light of these systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of freedom of religion and belief,

USCIRF recommends that Burma again be designated as a “country of particular concern” in

2013. The State Department has designated Burma as a CPC since 1999.