[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29393]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  PROTECT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2009

  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution 
designed to raise awareness and express support for Iraqi religious 
minorities. The war in Iraq and the subsequent ethnic and sectarian 
violence has created a massive humanitarian crisis, and led to the 
displacement of millions of people. Iraqi religious minorities are 
particularly vulnerable, and are often specifically targeted in 
gruesome and random acts of violence, such as murder, rape, and 
abductions.
  Many who have escaped Iraq to seek refuge in neighboring countries 
are forced to live in poverty, unable to legally work and lacking 
sufficient support from their host government. Those who remain in Iraq 
live a life of constant fear. They are forced into hiding and are 
vulnerable to emotional and physical attacks. Iraqi religious 
minorities lack the resources and sturdy community foundation necessary 
to defend themselves, and thus remain underrepresented politically, 
legally, and economically. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are exposed to 
such attacks, but the smaller religious sects remain more vulnerable, 
including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians, Sabean 
Mandeans, and Yazidis. Catholic Christians have witnessed the killing 
of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho and the ancient Iraqi Jewish community 
has seen itself diminish to a population of only ten members.
  This resolution calls upon the combined efforts of the United States 
Government and United Nations to ask the Iraqi Government to protect 
religious minorities by encouraging free and fair elections, training 
Iraqi security forces and providing safe places to worship. It also 
seeks an investigation into human rights violations, and calls for an 
end to the abuse of Iraqi religious minorities. Finally, the resolution 
calls for United States to work with the Iraqi government to ensure the 
physical and economic safety of those wishing to return to Iraq.
  It is no longer possible to stand by and watch as millions of 
religious minorities are subjected to torture, abuse, and 
discrimination, which is why I ask my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.

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