04-22-2004, 07:31 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anne Johnson,
Communications
April 20, 2004 Director, (202) 523-3240,
ext. 27
Bangladesh: New York hearing with Congressman Crowley
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) will hold a public, on-the-record hearing on Friday, April 30 at
the CUNY Queens College School of Law in Flushing, NY on "Bangladesh:
Protecting Human Rights of Thought, Conscience, and Religion." The hearing
is scheduled from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the City University
of New York (CUNY) School of Law, 65-21 Main Street, Flushing, NY.
Congressman Joseph Crowley, representing New York's 7th Congressional
District, will participate in this event.
The hearing will examine recent trends regarding religious freedom for both
Muslims and non-Muslims in Bangladesh and the implications of those trends
for U.S. policy. Bangladesh has constitutional and other legal protections
for human rights. Nevertheless, there were numerous reports of severe
abuses targeting members of religious minorities at the time of the
national elections in October 2001. In addition, according to the State
Department violence against women is widespread and sometimes led by
religious leaders, particularly in rural areas. There is concern that the
growth of religious extremism could have a negative impact on the rights of
all Bangladeshis.
WHAT: "Bangladesh: Protecting Human Rights of Thought, Conscience and
Religion"
WHEN: Friday, April 30, 2004, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
WHERE: City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College
School of Law Auditorium
65-21 Main Street
Flushing, NY
The witnesses and schedule are as follows:
6:30-6:45 Welcome and Introductory Remarks by USCIRF & Congressman Joseph
Crowley
6:45-7:45 Witness testimony:
Latifur Rahman, former Chief Justice of Bangladesh
U. A. B. Razia Akter Banu, Professor of Political Science,
University of Dhaka
Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International's lead researcher on
Bangladesh
Aroma Dutta, civil society activist and Executive Director,
PRIP Trust
Faustina Pereira, advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
7:45-8:00 Question and Answer
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to give independent policy
recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
Dean Michael K. Young, Chair Felice D. Gaer, Vice Chair Nina Shea, Vice
Chair Preeta D. Bansal Patti Chang
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Khaled Abou El Fadl Richard Land Bishop
Ricardo Ramirez
Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive
Director
800 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW SUITE 790 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-523-3240
202-523-5020 (FAX)
Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov
Communications
April 20, 2004 Director, (202) 523-3240,
ext. 27
Bangladesh: New York hearing with Congressman Crowley
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) will hold a public, on-the-record hearing on Friday, April 30 at
the CUNY Queens College School of Law in Flushing, NY on "Bangladesh:
Protecting Human Rights of Thought, Conscience, and Religion." The hearing
is scheduled from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the City University
of New York (CUNY) School of Law, 65-21 Main Street, Flushing, NY.
Congressman Joseph Crowley, representing New York's 7th Congressional
District, will participate in this event.
The hearing will examine recent trends regarding religious freedom for both
Muslims and non-Muslims in Bangladesh and the implications of those trends
for U.S. policy. Bangladesh has constitutional and other legal protections
for human rights. Nevertheless, there were numerous reports of severe
abuses targeting members of religious minorities at the time of the
national elections in October 2001. In addition, according to the State
Department violence against women is widespread and sometimes led by
religious leaders, particularly in rural areas. There is concern that the
growth of religious extremism could have a negative impact on the rights of
all Bangladeshis.
WHAT: "Bangladesh: Protecting Human Rights of Thought, Conscience and
Religion"
WHEN: Friday, April 30, 2004, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
WHERE: City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College
School of Law Auditorium
65-21 Main Street
Flushing, NY
The witnesses and schedule are as follows:
6:30-6:45 Welcome and Introductory Remarks by USCIRF & Congressman Joseph
Crowley
6:45-7:45 Witness testimony:
Latifur Rahman, former Chief Justice of Bangladesh
U. A. B. Razia Akter Banu, Professor of Political Science,
University of Dhaka
Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International's lead researcher on
Bangladesh
Aroma Dutta, civil society activist and Executive Director,
PRIP Trust
Faustina Pereira, advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
7:45-8:00 Question and Answer
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to give independent policy
recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
Dean Michael K. Young, Chair Felice D. Gaer, Vice Chair Nina Shea, Vice
Chair Preeta D. Bansal Patti Chang
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Khaled Abou El Fadl Richard Land Bishop
Ricardo Ramirez
Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive
Director
800 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW SUITE 790 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-523-3240
202-523-5020 (FAX)
Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov