[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 420 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 420

Condemning the recent murders of three Christian workers in Turkey and 
   expressing support for the efforts of the Government of Turkey to 
investigate and prosecute those individuals responsible for the murders 
                      under charges of terrorism.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2007

 Mr. Inglis of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Pence, Mr. 
 McGovern, Mr. Fortuno, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Sali, Mr. Franks of Arizona, 
 Mr. Akin, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Feeney, 
Mr. McHenry, and Mr. Shimkus) submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the recent murders of three Christian workers in Turkey and 
   expressing support for the efforts of the Government of Turkey to 
investigate and prosecute those individuals responsible for the murders 
                      under charges of terrorism.

Whereas three employees of Zirve, a Christian publishing house, were brutally 
        murdered on April 18, 2007, in Turkey;
Whereas media reports state that the three victims had their hands and feet 
        bound together and their throats cut and that in recent months, staff of 
        the Zirve publishing house had allegedly received death threats from 
        groups accusing them of missionary activities;
Whereas Turkish police were reported to have already arrested eleven men and 
        were reported to intend to arrest a twelfth suspect who was hospitalized 
        after jumping out of a window to try to escape arrest;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has moved quickly to prosecute those 
        individuals responsible for the murders;
Whereas the Government of Turkey condemned the attack as savagery and moved to 
        investigate possible links with terror groups;
Whereas a Turkish court adjudicating the brutal murders of the three victims 
        brought terrorism and murder charges against four suspects and charged 
        one suspect with aiding a terrorist group; and
Whereas it is in the interest of the Government of Turkey to promote religious 
        liberty and freedom of peaceful religious expression in Turkey: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly condemns the murders of the three Christian 
        workers on April 18, 2007, in Turkey;
            (2) expresses appreciation to the Government of Turkey for 
        its statements condemning the murders;
            (3) supports the efforts of the Government of Turkey to 
        swiftly investigate and prosecute those individuals responsible 
        for the murders in order to underline the defense of all 
        residents and citizens of Turkey from attacks by Islamic 
        extremists;
            (4) urges the Government of Turkey to take further steps to 
        help ensure that religious minority groups in Turkey are 
        protected from such acts of crime, terror, and violence by 
        Islamic extremists; and
            (5) urges the Government of Turkey to promote freedom of 
        speech and peaceful religious expression in Turkey.
                                 <all>