[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION CALLING ON EGYPT TO RESPECT AND UPHOLD 
                 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 2008

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution calling 
on the Government of Egypt to respect and uphold religious freedom for 
all of its citizens. In the U.S. Commission on International Religious 
Freedom's 2008 report, Egypt remains on the watch list of countries 
that seriously violate freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or 
belief.
  Members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the largest non-Muslim 
minority in Egypt, have a very difficult time. In the last several 
years there has been an upsurge of attacks targeting Copts. Such 
attacks include arson of churches, destruction of Coptic-owned property 
and businesses and physical assaults. While authorities often arrest 
suspects in these cases, formal charges are rarely pursued.
  The Baha'i religion has been banned since 1960 due to a presidential 
decree. Members of the Baha'i faith have difficulties obtaining civil 
documents such as official ID cards, birth certificates, passports, and 
marriage licenses.
  Material vilifying Jews regularly appears in state-controlled and 
semi-official media, including anti-Semitic cartoons aimed at 
influencing the opinions of Egyptian youth. The Jehovah's Witnesses 
cannot congregate in numbers greater than five without facing 
harassment by government security services.
  This resolution is modeled after a similar measure recently passed by 
the European Union Parliament. The United States was founded upon the 
principle that all men are endowed with certain unalienable rights, 
including religious freedom. Ronald Reagan once said that the 
Constitution is ``a kind of covenant. It is a covenant we've made not 
only with ourselves but with all of mankind.''
  The United States Congress has a responsibility to speak out for 
these religious minorities. I encourage all my colleagues, who care 
about persecuted believers of all faiths, to cosponsor this resolution 
and add the House's voice to that of the EU Parliament in calling on 
the Government of Egypt to fully implement and protect the rights of 
religious minorities as full citizens.

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