[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CHRISTIANS ATTACKED IN PAKISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hardy). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it seems now, more than any time 
in recent history, Christians around the world are being singled out 
and persecuted.
  Most recently and unfortunately were occurrences in Pakistan, where 
two churches were targeted by suicide bombers. The two attacks that 
occurred resulted in the deaths of 14 people and injured at least 70.
  The bombings were obviously coordinated as they occurred fairly close 
in proximity and time. One suicide bomber detonated inside one church, 
and the other was stopped at a security checkpoint and detonated when 
being tackled by a guard.
  Pakistan, whose track record of protecting religious minority groups 
is spotty at best, has a history of attacks on Christians.
  In an op-ed piece I wrote in The Washington Times in February, I 
discussed the suffering of Christians and other religious minorities 
around the world.
  Last November, a mob of 1,200 in Pakistan lynched two Christians 
accused of burning a Koran, and a judge sentenced a Christian to death 
for blasphemy.
  The State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 
2013 highlights Pakistan's inability to protect the religious 
minorities under its jurisdiction. The report speaks of Pakistan's 
enforcement of blasphemy laws that restrict religious freedom and are 
the symbols of religious intolerance.
  While the government is vocal of its condemnation of attacks on 
Christians and other religious communities, it has not taken proper 
steps to ensure the attackers of such atrocities are brought to 
justice. Again, it seems to be that words matter more than actions to 
them. Pakistan is by far not the only country to possess such a dismal 
record of protecting Christians.
  In my op-ed, I speak of China and North Korea as countries that 
target Christians. Across the Middle East and North Africa, Muslim 
terrorist organizations search out Christians and kill them in violent 
and graphic ways, only because the person chose to pray to a different 
God.
  Fellow Americans, when you think about what I have just said, when 
you think about the freedom that we have here, the very essence of our 
religious freedom in America is the freedom for all to express their 
religious beliefs or express none at all; yet all over the world, 
countries such as Pakistan, Islamic extremist groups such as ISIS and 
others--who have no part in a civilized society and need to be banished 
and done away with in a civilized society--choose to horrendously kill 
someone for whom they pray and the faith that they have.
  Explain to me how you are supposed to worship a God that says it is 
okay to behead 16 Christians or to blow up their church or desecrate 
their facilities. It is something that must be addressed.
  You see, these atrocities should not just startle those of religious 
faith and of nonreligious faith as well; they should startle and shock 
the world to realize that this is something that must cease.
  For me, it is personal. As a Christian, as one of faith, my faith is 
described to me as being one in Christ with other believers. For me, 
when one is beheaded, we are all persecuted, including those here in 
our comfort in America.
  You see, religious freedom is not just something that we talk about 
in the comfort of America, but must be rung loud and true throughout 
the world.
  You see, having a member of a common faith that is being decapitated, 
burned alive, impaled, or crucified, these are family members to me, 
but in the reality to the world, as the poet has once said: ``Any man's 
death diminishes me.''
  What a tragedy it takes on when it takes the form of religious 
intolerance by people who want their own views believed.
  You see, I desire now that the President seriously take into 
consideration the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on 
International Religious Freedom. It provides recommendations to 
Congress and the President about the lack of religious freedoms in 
other countries and advises the White House on nonlethal actions that 
can be taken against those countries.
  Since 2002, they have recommended that Pakistan be named as a 
``country of particular concern.'' The designation of ``country of 
particular concern'' allows the government to use nonmilitary policies 
to encourage a country to increase protection for religious minorities.
  I strongly encourage the White House to consider looking into 
designating Pakistan as a ``country of particular concern.''
  I ask the question to this administration and to the world: How many 
more Christians have to be blown up, how many more have to be beaten in 
prison, how many more have to have their heads taken off before we act?
  When I deployed to Iraq, I saw the multitude of faiths and lack of 
faith. I have seen it come together and understand what we are fighting 
for. When we talk about those who act in the name of a God and are 
Islamic extremists who want nothing but to eradicate the rest of the 
people's beliefs, this is something that cannot be tolerated. I cringe 
when I think of this.
  While I disagreed many times with the decisions made at 1600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, I ask that this administration take this very 
seriously and consider religious freedom for all around the world.

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