Bill Summary
This legislation, called the "Resolution Condemning the Global Persecution of Christians," addresses the issue of religious persecution faced by Christians around the world. It highlights statistics from organizations such as the Pew Research Center and Open Doors USA, and includes specific examples of persecution in countries like Pakistan, India, and Nigeria. The resolution condemns all forms of persecution and calls on governments to respect the right of Christians to practice their faith without fear. It also urges the Department of State to prioritize religious freedom in their foreign policy decisions.
Possible Impacts
1. Protection for persecuted Christians: This legislation could lead to increased protection and support for Christians who are facing persecution in various parts of the world. This could include providing asylum and assistance for those fleeing their home countries, as well as diplomatic efforts to pressure governments to protect the rights of Christians.
2. Raising awareness of Christian persecution: The legislation could bring attention to the issue of Christian persecution and educate the public on the extent of the problem. This could lead to increased empathy and support for persecuted Christians, as well as potential efforts to address the root causes of persecution.
3. Promoting religious freedom: The legislation calls for the recognition of the right for Christians to practice their faith without fear of persecution. This could potentially lead to increased advocacy for religious freedom in general, not just for Christians, and efforts to protect the rights of all religious minorities.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 640 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 640
Condemning the global persecution of Christians.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 18, 2019
Mr. Palmer (for himself, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, Mr. Hice of
Georgia, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Buck, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Fulcher,
Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Wright, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Bilirakis, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr.
Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Meadows,
Mr. Budd, Mr. Roy, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Babin, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr.
Gianforte, Mr. Brooks of Alabama, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Marshall, Mr.
Rutherford, Mr. Spano, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Johnson of
Louisiana, Mr. Ratcliffe, Mr. Walker, Mr. Biggs, Mrs. Miller, Mr.
Wenstrup, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Mullin, Mrs. Rodgers of
Washington, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Westerman, and Ms. Foxx of North
Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the global persecution of Christians.
Whereas Christian persecution remains a global problem;
Whereas, according to the Pew Research Center, Christians remain the most
persecuted religious group in the world;
Whereas persecution includes acts such as physical violence, forced exile,
imprisonment, torture, rape, and death;
Whereas, according to Open Doors USA's 2019 World Watch List, the 50 most
dangerous countries for Christians were responsible for 4,136 Christians
killed for faith-related reasons, 1,266 church or Christian building
attacks, and the detention without trial, arrest, sentencing, and
imprisonment of 2,625 Christians;
Whereas, in 2010, Asia Bibi, a Christian mother and field laborer, was charged
with blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging in Pakistan;
Whereas, after nine years of imprisonment, Pakistan's Supreme Court acquitted
Asia Bibi based on insufficient evidence and she was finally allowed to
leave the country in May 2019;
Whereas, since 2014, discrimination and violence toward Christians, Muslims, and
other religious minorities in India have significantly increased using
anticonversion laws, anti-cow-slaughter laws, forced conversions, and
injustice within law enforcement;
Whereas, in Nigeria on February 15, 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked a
farming village in Borno State, killing 106 people while targeting male
residents of the Christian community;
Whereas, in August 2014, ISIS swept into the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, forcing
thousands of Christian families to flee their homes;
Whereas, in 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry stated that a genocide was being
committed against Christians and Yazidis in Northern Iraq and Syria;
Whereas, in 2016, United States Pastor Andrew Brunson was wrongfully imprisoned
by the Government of Turkey for two years until his release in 2018;
Whereas, on April 9, 2017, Palm Sunday, two Egyptian Coptic Christian churches
were bombed, killing 45 and injuring 126 churchgoers;
Whereas, in Nigeria on June 23, 2018, Fulani militants in Plateau State killed
120 Christians as they returned from a funeral;
Whereas, in December 2018, police officers in Chengdu, China, arrested
Protestant Pastor Wang Yi and more than 100 Early Rain Covenant Church
members;
Whereas Chinese authorities searched and sealed each of the Early Rain Covenant
Church's properties and forced members to sign a pledge that they would
not attend the church or church school again;
Whereas China banned the online sale of the Bible;
Whereas Chinese authorities are forcing Christians to replace pictures of Jesus
with pictures of Chinese government officials;
Whereas an estimated 60 million Christians reside in China and most worship in
underground churches to avoid government control;
Whereas, on April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, more than 180 people were killed
while worshipping at Christian churches in three separate locations in
Sri Lanka;
Whereas the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Easter attacks, stating
it was carried out by seven ISIS fighters and targeted Christians and
``citizens of Crusader coalition states''; and
Whereas, in May 2019, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued an interim
report finding that ``the overwhelming majority (estimated at 80
percent) of persecuted religious believers are Christians.'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns persecution of members of any faith;
(2) calls for every government to recognize the right of
Christians to practice their faith without fear of persecution,
including physical violence, death, or imprisonment; and
(3) calls on the Department of State to prioritize freedom
of conscience and religious freedom in United States foreign
policy consideration.
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