[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 421 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 421

Calling on the Government of Afghanistan to uphold freedom of religion 
  and urging the Government of the United States to promote religious 
                        freedom in Afghanistan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 4, 2006

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Biden, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, 
  Mr. Salazar, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. 
Inhofe, and Mr. Coleman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling on the Government of Afghanistan to uphold freedom of religion 
  and urging the Government of the United States to promote religious 
                        freedom in Afghanistan.

Whereas under the Taliban Government of Afghanistan, individuals convicted of 
        promoting faiths other than Islam, or expressing interpretations of 
        Islam differing from the prevailing orthodoxy, could be imprisoned and 
        those converting from Islam could be tortured and publicly executed;
Whereas the United States has more than 22,000 members of the Armed Forces 
        stationed in Afghanistan and whereas 282 members of the Armed Forces 
        have given their lives in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom 
        began in that country;
Whereas Abdul Rahman, a citizen of Afghanistan, was arrested and accused of 
        apostasy for converting to Christianity 16 years ago and threatened with 
        execution;
Whereas the prosecutor in this case, Abdul Wasi, stated in court that Abdul 
        Rahman ``is known as a microbe in society, and he should be cut off and 
        removed from the rest of Muslim society and should be killed.'';
Whereas, while it was a welcome development that charges against Abdul Rahman 
        were dropped, he was forced to seek asylum in Italy;
Whereas, despite his release, religious freedom and those who would practice it 
        in Afghanistan remain in jeopardy;
Whereas religious freedom is a fundamental principle of democracy;
Whereas the Constitution of Afghanistan does not fully guarantee freedom of 
        thought, conscience, religion, or belief;
Whereas, on several occasions throughout Afghanistan's constitution drafting 
        process, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 
        raised concerns that the constitution's ambiguity on issues of 
        conversion and religious expression could lead to unjust criminal 
        accusations against Muslims and non-Muslims alike;
Whereas charges of blasphemy since 2002 have justified those concerns;
Whereas the International Religious Freedom Report 2005 published by the 
        Department of State does not list Afghanistan among those countries 
        cited for ``State Hostility Toward Minority or Nonapproved Religions'', 
        ``State Neglect of Societal Discrimination or Abuses Against Religious 
        Groups'', or ``Discriminatory Legislation or Policies Prejudicial to 
        Certain Religions'' and notes that ``[t]he new Constitution provides for 
        freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right 
        in practice'';
Whereas the International Religious Freedom Report 2005 states that conversion 
        from Islam is ``in theory - punishable by death'' in Afghanistan;
Whereas the case of Abdul Rahman, other instances of religious persecution or 
        discrimination against minorities, and ambiguities within the 
        Constitution of Afghanistan appear to warrant closer scrutiny in the 
        International Religious Freedom Report 2006; and
Whereas Afghanistan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and 
        Political Rights, which reads in part, ``Everyone shall have the right 
        to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include 
        freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and 
        freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public 
        or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, 
        practice and teaching.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate--
                    (A) recognizes freedom of religion as a central 
                tenet of democracy;
                    (B) respects the right of the people of Afghanistan 
                to self-government, while strongly urging the 
                Government of Afghanistan to respect all universally 
                recognized human rights;
                    (C) condemns the arrest of Abdul Rahman and other 
                instances of religious persecution in Afghanistan;
                    (D) commends the dropping of charges against Abdul 
                Rahman; and
                    (E) strongly urges the Government of Afghanistan to 
                consider the importance of religious freedom for the 
                broader relationship between the United States and 
                Afghanistan; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Senate that the President and 
        the President's representatives should--
                    (A) in both public and private fora, raise concerns 
                at the highest levels with the Government of 
                Afghanistan regarding the violations of internationally 
                recognized human rights, including the right to freedom 
                of religion or belief, in Afghanistan; and
                    (B) ensure that the International Religious Freedom 
                Report 2006 for Afghanistan fully addresses the issue 
                of religious persecution in that country, including the 
                arrest of Abdul Rahman.
                                 <all>