Christian Persecution Resolution

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

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.