Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Africa Committee, applauded the release today of Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman sentenced to death for not recanting her faith. “Meriam Ibrahim’s faith in God and willingness to endure torture – even martyrdom – rather than recant, is extraordinarily courageous and inspiring. What a remarkable woman,” Smith said. Meriam Ibrahim’s convictions on apostasy and adultery were overturned by a Sudanese appeals court, and she and her children were re... Read more

The latest country-by-country ratings about anti-human trafficking policies around the world—a report mandated by a law written by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)—was released today by the U.S. State Department. “Experts estimate that there is more slavery in the world today that at any previous time in human history. With the Trafficking in Persons (or TIP) report and tier rankings, the United States is ensuring more accountability and prog... Read more

BY BECCA STANEK - A new report suggests that the current situation in North Korea may amount to genocide. Although the world has long been aware of potential human rights violations and crimes against humanity in North Korea, few have called the situation there an outright genocide. The report came to light at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing Tuesday, during which South Korea Human Rights Ambassador Lee Jong-hoon said the possible genocide extends to three groups: the so-called “host... Read more

The extraordinary human rights abuses and possible crimes against humanity in North Korea were the topic of a congressional hearing held Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee. Smith said the world needs to be fully aware of “the systematic abuses of human rights in North Korea, which amount to crimes against humanity by perhaps the world’s most repressive totalitarian regime,” and cited the recent United Nations Commission of Inquiry r... Read more

The safety of Chinese products—including processed chicken, pet treats and other foods—which are shipped to the United States was the topic of a bipartisan congressional hearing Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), of the bipartisan Commission on China. “The safety of food, feed, and drugs from China are a cause for real concern. American consumers are rightly anxious,” said Smith. “We have pet treats that may have sickened and/or killed pets, a virus ma... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, addressed the Council on Foreign Relations today. Smith shared the stage with moderator Michael Mosettig, former senior producer at the PBS NewsHour. After a brief presentation, they discussed trafficking, international religious freedom and the Leahy Law. Also discussed at the event, were Iraq, China human rights, including the Tiananmen Square Massacre 25th anniversary, and coercive population control issues, the Or... Read more

Responding to the kidnapping of three Israeli teens, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House panel that oversees international human rights, said: “My heart and prayers go out to these three young men and to their family and friends. The young men are the victims of a horrendous crime – a crime Prime Minister Netanyahu has attributed to the Hamas terrorist movement. The fact that other terrorist groups are themselves claiming ‘credit’ for such a sick action shows the strength of the... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents areas of Monmouth and Ocean counties that were hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy, released the following statement about President Obama's decision announced over the weekend to open hundreds of millions of dollars in available government assistance—approved by Congress in the aftermath of Sandy—to non-Sandy related applicants across the country. “In New Jersey we have gone extra lengths to identify our critical, remaining, unmet needs in a host of area... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) took to the House floor last night, along with his colleague Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01), to bring attention to the dire needs of the Nigerian people who are facing murders, kidnappings and human trafficking of schoolgirls and other terrorist activities at the hands of the notorious group "Boko Haram." Mr. SMITH of New Jersey: "Mr. Speaker, last week, I spent four days in Nigeria, and while in Abuja, I met with one of the Chibok girls who escaped after the infamous... Read more

The notorious acts of terror at the hands of group called Boko Haram were highlighted at a House hearing held on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. Smith, who in recent days returned from a human rights trip to Nigeria, chaired the hearing with witnesses who discussed the terrorist organization’s attacks, and ways to assist the Nigerian government’s fight against Boko Haram. “Last week, I met in Abuja with one of the Chibok gi... Read more