There is perhaps no religious right as basic as the right to gather for worship or simply walk down the street without fear of being attacked because of one's faith. The Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section, in conjunction with U.S. Attorney's Offices around the country, prosecutes violations of criminal civil rights statutes. In the area of religion-based bias crimes against individuals, these include 18 U.S.C. § 241 (conspiracy to deprive a person of his or her civil rights), 18 U.S.C. § 245 (criminal interference with federally protected activities), 18 U.S.C. 249 (a)(1) (causing or attempting to cause bodily injury because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin), and 42 U.S.C. § 3631 (criminal interference with housing rights).
Two provisions specifically address vandalism and arson of religious property and interference with persons' exercise of their religion at houses of worship. The Church Arson Prevention Act, 18 U.S.C. § 247, makes it a crime to deface, damage, or destroy religious real property, or interfere with a person's religious practice, in situations affecting interstate commerce. The Act also bars defacing, damaging, or destroying religious property because of the race, color, or ethnicity of persons associated with the property. Additionally, 18 U.S.C. § 248 makes it a crime to, "by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injure[ ], intimidate[ ] or interfere[ ] with or attempt[ ] to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship" or to "intentionally damage[ ] or destroy[ ] the property of a place of religious worship."
Examples of criminal prosecutions involving religion include:
If you have been the victim of a bias-related crime, you should contact your local police and the nearest office of the FBI as soon as possible. You also may contact the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.
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Thomas E. Perez |
Assistant Attorney General |
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Civil Rights Division |
(202) 514-4609 Telephone Device for the Deaf (TTY) (202) 514-0716 |