Egypt’s Human Rights Landscape: Insights from the 48th Universal Periodic Review

Egypt’s Human Rights Landscape: Insights from the 48th Universal Periodic Review

The Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP Liberté de Conscience), a secular international organization, has actively contributed to the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group on Egypt. CAP Liberté de Conscience submitted a detailed report addressing critical issues related to freedom of religion and belief, particularly highlighting the persecution faced by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Egypt. This article synthesizes the key points from the stakeholders’ submissions, the UPR summary report, and CAP’s recommendations to shed light on the ongoing challenges and proposed solutions.

Peaceful Protest in Geneva for Religious Freedom and Solidarity with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

Peaceful Protest in Geneva for Religious Freedom and Solidarity with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

Geneva, Switzerland—December 20, 2024: On December 20, adherents of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light from across French-speaking countries in Europe will gather in Geneva to peacefully protest the ongoing persecution of members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Jordan. This demonstration of solidarity aims to shed light on the grave injustices faced by Ahmadi communities in Muslim-majority countries and to demand accountability from Jordanian authorities for the violation of religious freedom.

57th Session Human Rights Council Hears Alarming Report on Persecution of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light  in Jordan

57th Session Human Rights Council Hears Alarming Report on Persecution of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Jordan

During the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting there was a discussion, about the challenges Ahmadi Religion of Peace members are enduring in Jordan due to persecution issues discussed in a report presented there recently by Christine Mirre, director CAP Freedom of Conscience who emphasized the difficult situation of six Ahmadis currently undergoing trial over accusations of “heresy,” which poses a serious threat, to their basic human rights.

HRC 57 Oral Statement Jordan: Six members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light to be tried as heretics

HRC 57 Oral Statement Jordan: Six members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light to be tried as heretics

We are deeply concerned about the arrest in Jordan in late July of six members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, a new religious movement founded 25 years ago.

They were just distributing in public in Amman flyers which simply described traditions related to the appearance of Imam Mahdi.

They were detained in unhuman conditions, mice and rats infesting their cells. They were released on bail after about three weeks of detention. But they were forced to pledge a payment of 70,000 US Dollars, should they ever publicly express or propagate again their religion.

HRC 57 Written statement Jordan: Six Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light to Be Tried as Heretics

HRC 57 Written statement Jordan: Six Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light to Be Tried as Heretics

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is a small community in Jordan that faces ongoing challenges, including harassment from authorities, threats of violence, and exclusion from society due to their divergent beliefs from traditional Muslim views. Their beliefs include that the real Kaaba is in Petra, Jordan rather than Mecca, that prophets made mistakes, that fixed prayer times are unnecessary, and that alcohol can be consumed moderately. They also accept LGBTQ people in their community.

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