The urgent need for an integrated, sustained strategy to combat the rising tide of religious persecution—especially in Iraq and Syria—was the joint message heard from experts testifying at a hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today entitled “The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom and Its Challenge to U.S. Foreign Policy.”

Smith is the author of the bipartisan Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (HR 1150) which gives the Administration and the U.S. State Department new resources to help combat the escalation of persecution of Christians and anti-Semitism worldwide.  The bill passed the House unanimously last month but is feared to be “languishing” in the Senate. 

“The world is witnessing a global religious freedom crisis that poses a direct challenge to U.S. interests in the Middle East, Asia, China, and Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Smith, Chairman of the House panel that oversees global human rights.  “It is no coincidence that the worst violators of religious freedom globally are often those who are the worst threats to the U.S., those who wish to do Americans the most harm, and those who most want to tear down the pillars of tolerant and democratic societies. (click here to read Chairman Smith’s opening remarks)

“The promotion of religious liberty is not some isolated human rights concern—it must be a key component of our national security strategy. Religious freedom diplomacy has developed under three administrations of both parties, but the grim global realities demonstrate that our nation has had little effect on curbing the rise of genocide, anti-Semitism, persecution, and religion-based violence.  It is worth asking why and what can be done better.”

Smith cited recommendations made by Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson at a Smith hearing held in May.  Anderson urged Congress to increase humanitarian aid and ensure the aid gets to the devastated populations and he called for punishing perpetrators of genocide and linking the adherence to human rights and religious freedom as conditions for U.S. humanitarian and military assistance.

Today’s hearing featured the U.S. State Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, David Saperstein, and Robert P. George and Zuhdi Jasser, respectively the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan and independent government advisory body. The witnesses discussed religious freedom conditions in countries such as Iraq, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, China, Nigeria and Pakistan, and offered recommendations on ways to address persistent religious persecution globally.  The USCIRF chairs also discussed the findings of its 2016 Annual Report, released in May. 

Robert George said, “While the world has undergone some positive changes in the last decades, religious freedom conditions remain dire around the world and challenge us to stand up for this precious human right.  The actions of non-state actors also present a major challenge to freedom of religion or belief. For example, in countries including Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic (CAR), non-state actors are among the primary perpetrators of egregious abuses of religious freedom and other human rights.  Also disturbing is the rise of societal intolerance against Jews and Muslims in Western Europe. If liberty and justice are to prevail, it will require the free choices, determination, dedication, and intelligent action of men and women—citizens and statesmen,” he said. (click here to read George testimony)

“This hearing is especially timely,” said Dr. Jesser.  “There is a global religious freedom crisis and a negative trajectory for religious freedom in countries that top the U.S. foreign policy agenda. We must renew our resolve to integrate this fundamental freedom more fully into the foreign policy of our nation, we can bring genuine progress to those beyond our shores who yearn for freedom.” (click here to read Jasser testimony)

Ambassador Saperstein said, “One has only to read the headlines in recent weeks and months to know that the challenges to international religious freedom are daunting. First and foremost, we absolutely must address the horrific and brutal realities of Da’esh’s (ISIS) activity in Iraq and Syria.  Da’esh (ISIS) is responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in areas it controls, we have significantly strengthened our efforts to ensure a viable future for members of impacted communities.”  (click here to read Saperstein testimony)  

Smith asserted that there is no easy, single solution to religious persecution or to the genocide faced by religious and ethnic minorities but warned against indecisiveness, which he said has marked Obama’s strategy.    

“Complexity must not be an excuse for indifference and inaction. If we do not have a comprehensive strategy, genocide, killings, beheadings, and sexual violence targeting religious minorities will happen again and again.

“The tolerance and open dialogue embodied in religious freedom is the best antidote to extremism,” Smith added.  “Diplomacy by itself will not stop terrorism, but coordinated with military and economic development efforts, it can help undermine the conditions that nurture groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, extremist Hinduism, or radical Buddhism.”    

Smith and others urged the Senate to move swiftly to pass his bill. 

“The passage and implementation of HR 1150 will send a clear and urgent message regarding the inherent dignity of every human being, as well as our common global security in the fight against religious persecution, extremism, and terrorism,” the chairman said.   

Key provisions of HR 1150:

• Create a Designated Persons List of individuals sanctioned for participating or directing religious freedom abuses;
• Expand diplomatic training on international religious freedom for all State Department diplomats; 
• Create a “tier system” for International Religious Freedom reports on countries of particular concern and a special watch list—similar to the tier system used in the State Dept.’s Trafficking in Persons Report;
• Require annual presidential designations and actions on countries with severe religious freedom abuses;
• Give the President the authority to designate “non-state actors” as severe violators of international religious freedom, and;
• Require that the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom will report directly to the Secretary of State.

Click here or on image above to watch video of the hearing.

Most recent Smith hearings on religious persecution:  “The ISIS Genocide Declaration: What Next?” (May 26, 2016);  “Genocidal Attacks Against Christian and Other Religious Minorities in Syria and Iraq” (September 10, 2014); “Fulfilling the Humanitarian Imperative: Assisting Victims of ISIS Violence” (December 9, 2015) and “The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom” (October 27, 2015).   

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