[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 62 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN BANGLADESH

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, in Bangladesh, the horrendous, brutal 
street assassinations of members of minority religions, secularists, 
and atheists violate every single value that we hold dear.
  Just 2 weeks ago, 28-year-old Nazimuddin Samad was hacked to death in 
Dhaka, Bangladesh, after speaking out against the persecution of 
religious minorities on social media.
  Evelyn Beatrice Hall, the late British author, wrote: ``I disapprove 
of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.''
  In Bangladesh, discrimination and deadly violence against atheists, 
secularists, Hindus, Buddhists, and other religious minorities have 
unfortunately become a regular occurrence. This underscores the 
absolute necessity of not only defeating this global wave of 
intolerance, but standing up and fighting for the right of others to 
freely express their views regardless of whether you agree with those 
views or not.
  I introduced H. Res. 396 to call on the Government of Bangladesh to 
protect the rights of all of its religious minorities, including 
Christians, Hindus, atheists, and others. They have a responsibility to 
uphold the principles of its secular constitution, including freedom of 
religion and freedom of expression, and take action against this 
senseless violence.
  I encourage my colleagues to take action and support this 
resolution's passage.

                          ____________________