[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ADVANCING HUMAN RIGHT TO COMBAT EXTREMISM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2017

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today I held a hearing on 
advancing human rights to counter extremism. Today's hearing explored 
ways to combat violent extremism by advancing fundamental human 
rights--in particular, freedom of religion.
  Advancing freedom of religion, both as an end in of itself and as 
means to achieve peace, stability and human flourishing, should be a 
core objective of U.S. foreign policy.
  Religious liberty is opposed, however, by extremists who seek to 
impose their vision of an ideal society upon all. Oftentimes, the 
``choice'' they give to those who seek to adhere to the beliefs they 
were raised in boils down to convert or die.
  This clash manifests itself in numerous parts of the world, in 
varying degrees of intensity, but is particularly acute in certain 
Muslim-dominated regions, where groups such as ISIS, al-Nusra, Boko 
Haram and al-Shabaab seek to bring all under their sway.
  To personalize this, let me tell you about a victim of Boko Haram 
that I have gotten to know.
  On a trip to Nigeria, at an IDP camp in Jos, I met Habila Adamu.
  Dragged from his home by Boko Haram terrorists, he was ordered to 
renounce his faith.
  With an AK-47 pressed to his face, he was asked ``are you ready to 
die as a Christian.''
  With amazing courage Habila answered, ``yes, I am ready to die as a 
Christian.''
  He was asked a second time and he repeated his answer--``yes I am 
ready to die as a Christian.''
  This time, the terrorist pulled the trigger. A bullet ripped through 
Habila's face. He crumpled to the ground, left for dead.
  By some miracle, he survived.
  I asked Habila to come to Washington, D.C. to tell his story. At a 
Congressional hearing I chaired, Habila told my committee--``I am alive 
because God wants you to have this message--knowing Christ'' is so much 
``deeper'' than merely knowing Boko Haram's story of hate and 
intolerance.
  He closed his testimony with this--``do everything you can to end 
this ruthless religious persecution. . . but know Christ first''
  It should be stressed that extremist groups such as Boko Haram coerce 
and oppress not only members of other faiths, but also and in 
particular members of the Muslim faith whose interpretation of Islam 
differs from that of the extremists. They also target converts, whose 
consciences lead them to choose a different path.
  To combat these extremists, the ideological battlefield is just as 
important as the territorial one. By emphasizing human rights 
principles, we counter extremist messaging, support moderate voices and 
promote the popular aspirations of people around the world who simply 
want to live in peace and freedom.
  Last year, an important weapon in the fight against extremism was 
passed by Congress and signed into law: The Frank Wolf International 
Religious Freedom Act. This law provides tools and resources to our 
State Department to integrate religious freedom into our diplomacy the 
world over in order to counter violent extremism abroad.
  In building upon the landmark International Religious Freedom Act of 
1998, this law addresses the changed circumstances in the world since 
1998 by designating non-state extremist groups such as Boko Haram and 
ISIS as ``violent non-state actors,'' making it easier to ostracize and 
apply financial sanctions against their members, thereby helping starve 
extremists of resources.
  The law strengthens the ability to investigate and monitor religious 
persecution, creating a ``Designated Persons List'' of violators while 
also setting up a database of those detained, imprisoned and tortured 
for their faith, so that the victims are not forgotten, but rather can 
be more readily advocated for. Indeed, the Frank Wolf Act elevates the 
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, thereby 
enhancing the ability to advocate on behalf of victims of religious 
persecution.
  Finally, the Act requires that our Foreign Service Officers undergo 
training in religious liberty, so that they are able to integrate this 
important tool into their daily work.
  Before we move on to my colleagues' remarks, I would like to thank my 
friend and colleague, Congressman Francis Rooney, the former United 
States ambassador to the Holy See, for his interest in this subject 
Today's hearing was brought about in large part due to his persistent 
interest in these themes, and I want to thank him for joining our 
subcommittee for this hearing today.

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