"The world is witnessing a global religious freedom crisis that poses a direct challenge to U.S. interests in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,” said the Chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, noting special concerns in China and Russia. “The stakes are too high and the suffering too great to downplay religious freedom.”

    Smith will hold a hearing to examine religious freedom restrictions and religion-related violence since President Clinton signed the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) in 1998 to establish this fundamental freedom as a critical element of U.S. foreign policy. U.S. government leaders on religious freedom will detail what the State Department is doing to address religious freedom persecution, which Chairman Smith called “one of the first great crises of the 21st century.”

    “The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom,” is the title of the hearing set to be held on Oct. 27.

Who:              Chairman Chris Smith, and other members of the House subcommittees, and witnesses:

• Ambassador David N. Saperstein, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State
• Robert P. George, Ph.D. Chairman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

When:             Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m.  

Where:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172 (first floor)