[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1609-1614]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON RELIGIOUS 
                           MINORITIES IN IRAQ

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 944) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 944

       Whereas threats against members of even the smallest 
     religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq could 
     jeopardize the future of Iraq as a diverse, pluralistic, and 
     free society;

[[Page 1610]]

       Whereas according to the Department of State's 
     International Religious Freedom Report, violent acts continue 
     to pose a significant threat to members of the country's 
     vulnerable non-Muslim religious minority communities, 
     including documented attacks against Chaldeans, Syriacs, 
     Assyrians, and other Christians, Sabean Mandeans, and 
     Yazidis, and ``very few of the perpetrators of violence 
     committed against Christians and other religious minorities 
     in the country have been punished'';
       Whereas according to the United States Commission on 
     International Religious Freedom, there are grave threats to 
     religious freedom in Iraq, particularly for members of the 
     smallest, most vulnerable religious minority communities in 
     Iraq, including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other 
     Christians, Sabean Mandeans, and Yazidis;
       Whereas the February 2009 Country Report on Human Rights 
     Practices issued by the Department of State identifies on-
     going ``misappropriation of official authority by sectarian, 
     criminal, and extremist groups'' as among the significant and 
     continuing human rights problems in Iraq;
       Whereas in recent years, there have been alarming numbers 
     of religiously motivated killings, abductions, beatings, 
     rapes, threats, intimidation, forced conversions, marriages, 
     and displacement from homes and businesses, and attacks on 
     religious leaders, pilgrims, and holy sites, in Iraq, with 
     the smallest, non-Muslim religious minorities in Iraq having 
     been among the most vulnerable, although Iraqis from many 
     religious communities, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have 
     suffered in this violence;
       Whereas the Assyrian International News Agency reports that 
     59 churches were bombed in Iraq between June 2004 and July 
     2009;
       Whereas persecution and violence in Iraq have extended to 
     church leaders as well, such as the March 2008 kidnap for 
     ransom and killing of 65-year-old Chaldean Catholic 
     Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho;
       Whereas many members of non-Muslim religious minority 
     communities in Iraq reportedly do not receive adequate 
     official protection, and are legally, politically, and 
     economically marginalized;
       Whereas control of several ethnically and religiously mixed 
     areas, including the Nineveh and Tamim (Kirkuk) governorates, 
     is disputed between the Kurdistan regional government and the 
     Government of Iraq, and Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and 
     other Christians, Sabean Mandeans, Yazidis, and Muslim ethnic 
     minorities Shabak and Turkomans are caught in the middle of 
     this struggle for control and have been targeted for abuses 
     and discrimination as a result;
       Whereas many members of vulnerable non-Muslim religious 
     minority communities in Iraq have fled to other areas in Iraq 
     or to other countries;
       Whereas the flight of such refugees has substantially 
     diminished their numbers in Iraq;
       Whereas approximately 1,400,000 Christians were estimated 
     to have lived in Iraq as of 2003, including Chaldean 
     Catholics, Assyrian Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, 
     Syriac Catholics, Syriac Orthodox, Armenians (Catholic and 
     Orthodox), Protestants, Evangelicals, and others;
       Whereas it is widely reported that only 500,000 to 700,000 
     indigenous Christians remained in Iraq as of 2009;
       Whereas since 2003, the Sabean Mandean community has found 
     itself targeted by both Sunni and Shia Islamic extremists, 
     and by criminal gangs who use religion to justify their 
     attacks;
       Whereas the Sabean Mandean community in Iraq reports that 
     almost 90 percent of the members of that community either 
     fled Iraq or have been killed, leaving only about 3,500 to 
     5,000 Mandeans in Iraq as of 2009;
       Whereas in August 2007 a series of bombings targeted the 
     Yazidi community of Iraq resulting in an estimated 200 deaths 
     and more than 200 injuries;
       Whereas at least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded in a 
     double suicide bombing in August 2009 which targeted the 
     Yazidi minority in northern Iraq;
       Whereas the Yazidi community in Iraq reportedly now numbers 
     about 500,000, a decrease from about 700,000 in 2005;
       Whereas the Baha'i faith, estimated to have only 2,000 
     adherents in Iraq, remains prohibited in Iraq under a 1970 
     law;
       Whereas the ancient and once-large Jewish community in Iraq 
     now numbers fewer than 10, and they essentially live in 
     hiding;
       Whereas in 2008, the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees (UNHCR) reported that approximately 221,000 Iraqis 
     returned to their areas of origin in Iraq, the vast majority 
     of whom settled into neighborhoods or governorates controlled 
     by members of their own religious community;
       Whereas many of these returnees reported returning because 
     of difficult economic conditions in their countries of 
     asylum, principally Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon; and
       Whereas many members of vulnerable religious and ethnic 
     minority communities are not believed to be represented in 
     more than negligible numbers among these returnees: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the United States remains deeply concerned about the 
     plight of members of the vulnerable religious and ethnic 
     minority communities of Iraq;
       (2) the Secretary of State should develop and report to 
     Congress on a comprehensive strategy to encourage the 
     protection of the rights of members of vulnerable religious 
     and ethnic minority communities in Iraq;
       (3) the United States Government should urge the Government 
     of Iraq to enhance security at places of worship in Iraq, 
     particularly where members of vulnerable religious minority 
     communities are known to be at risk;
       (4) the United States Government should continue to work 
     with the Government of Iraq to integrate religious and ethnic 
     minorities into the government in general, and the Iraqi 
     Security Forces, in particular, with the goal of ensuring 
     that members of such communities--
       (A) suffer no discrimination in recruitment, employment, or 
     advancement in government positions, in general, and the 
     Iraqi police and security forces, in particular; and
       (B) while employed in the Iraqi police and security forces, 
     be initially assigned, in reasonable numbers, to their 
     locations of origin, rather than being transferred to other 
     areas;
       (5) the Government of Iraq should, with the assistance of 
     the United States Government--
       (A) ensure that the upcoming national elections in Iraq are 
     safe, fair, and free of intimidation and violence so that all 
     Iraqis, including members of vulnerable religious and ethnic 
     minority communities, can participate in the elections; and
       (B) permit and facilitate election monitoring by experts 
     from local and international nongovernmental organizations, 
     the international community, and the United Nations, 
     particularly in ethnic and religious minority areas;
       (6) the United States Government should encourage the 
     Government of Iraq to work with members of vulnerable 
     religious and ethnic minority communities to develop and 
     implement tangible, effective measures to protect their 
     rights and measures to reverse the legal, political, and 
     economic marginalization of religious minorities in Iraq;
       (7) in providing assistance to Iraq, the United States 
     Government should continue to take into account the needs of 
     vulnerable members of religious and ethnic minority 
     communities and expand upon efforts to work with local 
     organizations that serve those communities;
       (8) the United States Government should continue to fund 
     capacity-building programs for the Iraqi Ministry of Human 
     Rights, the independent national Human Rights Commission, and 
     the newly-created independent minorities committee whose 
     membership is selected by members of vulnerable religious and 
     ethnic minority communities of Iraq;
       (9) the United States Government should strongly encourage 
     the Government of Iraq to direct the Iraqi Ministry of Human 
     Rights to investigate and issue a public report on abuses 
     against and the marginalization of members of vulnerable 
     religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq and make 
     recommendations to address such abuses; and
       (10) the Government of Iraq should, with the assistance of 
     the United States Government and international organizations, 
     help ensure that displaced Iraqis considering return to Iraq 
     have the proper information needed to make informed decisions 
     regarding such return.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McMahon) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McMAHON. I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H. Res. 944 expresses the sense of the House of 
Representatives on the status of religious minorities in Iraq.
  When the Iraq war began in 2003, little thought was given to the 
impact on Iraq's religious minorities. Only 3 percent of the population 
in Iraq is non-Muslim. These populations include Christians, Yazidis, 
Sabian-Mandaeans, Baha'is, Shabaks, Kaka'is, and a very small number of 
Jews.
  Although the new Iraqi Constitution recognizes Islam as the official 
religion of Iraq, it also states that no law may

[[Page 1611]]

be enacted that contradicts principles of democracy or the rights and 
basic freedoms stipulated in the constitution. The constitution also 
guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religious belief and 
practice for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
  Although the Iraqi Government generally respects these rights, 
ongoing violence restricts the free exercise of religion, and this 
violence poses a significant threat to the country's vulnerable 
religious minorities. These minorities continue to suffer at the hands 
of terrorists, extremists, criminal gangs, and even at the hands of 
unsavory elements within the Iraqi Government. Sectarian violence, 
including attacks on religious leaders and religious places of worship, 
continues to hamper their ability to practice religion freely.
  Many experts consider the situation for Iraqi Christians as 
especially dire. According to Chaldean Catholic Auxiliary Bishop 
Andreos Abouna of Baghdad, the number of Christians in Iraq may have 
been cut in half since 2003. As documented by the State Department, 
Christians have been threatened with violence if they do not leave 
their homes. They have been accosted on the streets and have even been 
assassinated. Their churches have been bombed and destroyed.
  Reports indicate that other religious minorities face similarly 
treacherous situations. The Yazidis, who are considered heretical by 
many Muslims because of their beliefs, have suffered under a tremendous 
onslaught of violence. Another targeted group, the Sabian-Mandaeans, 
numbered about 60,000 in 2003. Today, only about 5,000 Sabian-Mandaeans 
remain in Iraq, meaning that more than 90 percent have left the country 
or have been killed.
  That is why we are considering House Resolution 944 today, and that 
is why I am proud to say that I am an original cosponsor of that 
resolution.
  This resolution urges the Government of Iraq to enhance security in 
places of worship in Iraq, particularly where religious minorities are 
known to be at risk. The resolution calls for the urgent training of an 
appropriate number of security forces to protect religious minorities. 
It also urges the Iraqi Government to take affirmative measures to 
reverse the legal, political and economic marginalization of religious 
minorities in Iraq. In addition, it asks the United States to consider 
implementing programs for religious minorities as part of its overall 
economic assistance to Iraq.

                              {time}  1445

  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution 
in an effort to make certain that all religions survive and have a 
chance to prosper in the new Iraq.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I also rise in support of House Resolution 944, and I want to thank 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters) and the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for bringing this important human rights issue 
before us today.
  The protection of members of vulnerable religious and ethnic 
minorities, including the smallest minority groups, is integral to the 
future of Iraq as a free and stable country. Iraq is home to ancient 
and diverse Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian groups, including 
Chaldean, Assyrian, Syriac, and Armenian Christians, among many others. 
They have been targeted for kidnapping and murder by radical Islamic 
extremists. Various credible sources estimate that more than half of 
Iraq's Christians have already fled the country during the last several 
years.
  However, these dangers are certainly not confined to Christians. The 
Baha'i faith remains prohibited in Iraq, and Iraq's ancient and once-
flourishing Jewish community has reportedly dwindled to fewer than a 
dozen people.
  All of us understand that Iraq's young democracy faces many 
challenges, including its own threats from insurgents and other 
extremists. But the marginalization, the displacement, the violence 
that threatens Iraq's minority communities also endanger the vitality 
and the inclusiveness of Iraqi society as a whole.
  We must strive to ensure that the work that we and our allies do 
helps to build Iraq's capacity and commitment to protect its minority 
citizens, and we must encourage the Government of Iraq to ensure that 
its forthcoming elections are an opportunity to reinforce the growth of 
democracy and freedom in that country. Those elections should be safe, 
should be fair, should be transparent so that all Iraqis, including 
members of these vulnerable religious and ethnic minority communities, 
can participate. And we must not let members of those minorities under 
siege think that they are alone or that they are forgotten.
  For these reasons, Madam Speaker, I am grateful for this resolution, 
which deserves our unanimous support.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the 
prime sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Peters).
  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for 
yielding the time.
  While the majority of Iraqis are Muslim, there are many communities 
of religious and ethnic minorities whose history in Iraq goes back 
thousands of years. This includes Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and 
other Christians, as well as Sabian Mandeans and Yazidis.
  Since 2003, approximately 2\1/2\ million refugees and asylum seekers 
have fled Iraq, and millions more have become displaced, forced to flee 
their homes and neighborhoods because of sectarian violence. In fact, 
there were approximately 1\1/2\ million Christians in Iraq in 2003, and 
today there is less than half of that amount.
  Many of these Iraqis would like nothing more than to return home. 
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 
2008, approximately 221,000 Iraqis returned to their home village or 
neighborhood in Iraq and the vast majority settled into areas where 
members of their own religious community controlled the neighborhood or 
local government.
  Unfortunately, Iraqi religious minorities do not have militia or 
tribal structures to defend themselves, and they do not receive 
adequate protection from the police or security forces. Not only does 
this make the possibility of return nearly impossible for Iraqi 
religious minorities, it also leaves them particularly vulnerable to 
violence.
  Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities are often 
specifically targeted in gruesome and random acts of violence such as 
murder, rape, and abductions. This includes the Chaldean community, who 
this week is mourning the kidnapping and murder of Archbishop Paulos 
Faraj Rahho on February 29, 2008.
  Archbishop Rahho spent almost his entire life living in Mosul and 
serving its Christian communities which are among the oldest and 
largest in Iraq. For years, the archbishop was threatened with violence 
because he spoke out against discrimination against Christians by 
Muslim extremists. Sadly, the archbishop was murdered because he 
refused to lend the support of his church to terrorists in their fight 
against U.S. forces in Iraq.
  These stories continue to be tragically common, and more must be done 
by the United States Government and by the Government of Iraq to 
protect religious minorities.
  This resolution calls upon the United States and 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 the United States to work with the Iraqi 
Government to ensure the physical and economic safety of those wishing 
to return to Iraq.
  I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Wolf and Ms. Eshoo, who, as 
co-Chairs of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, have 
shown great leadership on this issue and for

[[Page 1612]]

their support of this resolution. I would also like to thank Chairman 
Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their support and for their 
staffs' work in helping me bring this resolution forward today.
  It is no longer possible to stand by and watch as millions of 
religious minorities are subject to torture, abuse, and discrimination, 
which is why I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes 
to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the co-Chair of the Tom 
Lantos Congressional Human Rights Commission and the coauthor of this 
important measure.
  Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding the time.
  I want to support the comments that have been made by Members of both 
sides and let Members think about it for a moment. With the exception 
of Israel, the Bible, the Bible contains more references to the cities, 
the regions, and the nations of ancient Iraq than any other country. 
The patriarch Abraham came from the city of Ur. I actually visited the 
site, when the war began, of the location of Abraham's house. Isaac's 
bride, Rebekah, came from northwest Iraq. Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq, 
and his sons, the 12 tribes of Israel, were born in northwest Iraq. A 
remarkable spiritual revival as told in the Book of Jonah occurred in 
Nineveh. The events of the Book of Esther took place in Iraq, as did 
the account of Daniel in the lion's den.
  So all of these religious things have taken place, and yet people 
have almost forgotten about Iraq. And the previous speaker in his 
comments has said the Christian community in these areas has been going 
through tremendous pressure.
  I have appreciated Ambassador Chris Hill's commitment to this issue. 
In recent correspondence, he indicated that the security of the 
Christian community remains one of his paramount concerns, especially 
in light of attacks directed at Christian churches in Baghdad and Mosul 
over the past 5 months.
  But there needs to be leadership from the highest levels within the 
State Department as well. We've long advocated both during the previous 
administration and the current one that the U.S. needs to adopt a 
comprehensive policy to address the unique situation of these 
defenseless minorities. This resolution, and I thank both sides for 
bringing it up, urges the Secretary of State to develop such a 
strategy.
  In closing, let me just say it is time for this administration to 
start taking religious freedom seriously. The position of U.S. 
Ambassador for International Religious Freedom has been vacant, has 
been vacant for over a year. Did anyone hear? There is no ambassador 
for religious freedom that has been appointed by this administration. 
The position has been vacant, vacant for 1 year. Yet we see the 
persecution of the Coptic Christians in Egypt, the Assyrian Christians 
in Iraq, the Catholic Church in China, the Catholic Church in Vietnam, 
on and on. So we want to see this administration have an ambassador who 
can advocate, as the resolution calls for, to help Chris Hill and helps 
others to speak out and advocate. But the very fact that there has been 
no ambassador appointed for over 13 months kind of tells the story. 
Personnel, personnel is policy, and if there's no personnel, it's not a 
good policy.
  Let me just end. I want to thank the gentlemen on both sides and the 
gentlewoman for speaking. And I hope there's a rollcall vote on this. I 
hope we have to vote up and down so we can send a message to the 
Assyrian Christians and those who are going through tremendous 
persecution wondering whether anybody in the West cares.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I do have an additional speaker in 
case the gentleman would like to reserve his time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I now would like to yield 4 minutes 
to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), a member of the Natural 
Resources, Oversight, and Transportation Committees, for his insight 
and the insight of his constituent who's very concerned about religious 
minorities in Iraq.
  Mr. DUNCAN. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding me this 
time.
  I also want to thank all of the previous speakers: the gentleman from 
Michigan, the original author of the resolution; the gentleman from New 
York; and especially the gentleman from Virginia, Congressman Wolf, who 
has been such a leader on these issues for many years now.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 944, expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq.
  While this bill calls attention to various religious minorities in 
Iraq that are victims of acts of violence and religious persecution, 
one group that is extremely vulnerable, especially vulnerable, is the 
Iraqi Christians. In the most recent series of attacks in Iraq's 
northern city of Mosul, five Iraqi Christians were attacked and killed 
just last week in various acts of violence. According to a February 17, 
2010, article from Reuters, ``Bombings and shootings are recorded 
almost daily in the violent northern city of Mosul, where the situation 
has been described by one Christian priest as `miserable.' Iraqi 
Christians are forced to hide in their homes in fear of being the next 
victim of what is being called a `systematic campaign of violence 
against minorities.' And Sunni Islamist insurgent groups have labeled 
Christians and other Iraqi minorities as devil worshipers and 
infidels.''
  There is growing concern, Madam Speaker, of even more violence and 
killings in the wake of the upcoming elections in March. These attacks 
are being used as a means of intimidation to discourage Iraqi 
Christians from voting in the upcoming elections. There have also been 
threats of violence using military means to prevent the elections from 
happening at all.
  I first spoke out about the violence against Christians in Iraq that 
last year when one of my constituents and a native of Iraq, Susan 
Dakak, brought to my attention the escalation of violence against this 
particular religious group. I also met recently, a few weeks ago, with 
a member of the Iraqi Parliament, Yonadom Kanna, recently to discuss 
the ongoing persecution of Iraqi Christians.
  The horrendous human rights violations and acts against religious 
minorities must end. The United States should do as much as possible to 
help stop the discrimination against and persecution of the Christian 
community in Iraq, and this resolution will be a meaningful step in 
that direction.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Res. 944--``Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on 
religious minorities in Iraq.'' As a cosponsor of this resolution, I 
join my colleagues in expressing my concern about the plight of 
vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities of Iraq, and we are 
particularly concerned for the Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other 
Christians, Sabean Mandeans, Yazidis, Baha'is, Jews, and Muslim ethnic 
minorities, the Shabak and Turkomen, and other religious and ethnic 
minorities of Iraq.
  Political and religious freedom in Iraq is a vital concern with 
regards to the nation and region. When we envision the long-term peace 
and security of Iraq, we envision a country with a strong, functioning 
democracy that respects the rights of all citizens. That vision is not 
a product of the imperialism of Western ideas; the tradition of 
religious plurality has roots in the history and religious beliefs of 
the Iraqi people. But, although Iraq has a strong history of 
multiculturalism, it must not rest on this reputation. The rights of 
minorities in Iraq are not fully protected, and the Iraqi government 
can and must do more to protect the rights of its minorities.
  The degree to which Iraq protects those rights is a reflection on our 
country. Because

[[Page 1613]]

of the United States' unfortunate detour from our struggle against 
terrorism into Iraq, the actions of the new government of Iraq directly 
reflect upon us. So far, I believe that the actions of the government 
of Iraq with respect to political and religious freedoms are 
problematic.
  In no case is the Iraqi government's treatment of minorities more 
troubling than their treatment of the residents of Camp Ashraf. 
Although Camp Ashraf is halfway around the world, the conditions there 
affect Americans, including in my own district and throughout the state 
of Texas where some of my constituents have family members in Camp 
Ashraf. For example, my constituent, Mitra Sohrabi, has a brother who 
is currently detained in Camp Ashraf, and worries about his health on a 
daily basis. I also know many people in Houston and throughout the 
state of Texas who were affected directly by the July 2009 raid on Camp 
Ashraf.
  Late last year, three months after U.S. forces turned over control of 
Camp Ashraf, Iraqi Security Forces violated the human rights of the 
People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI). Camp Ashraf detains over 3,400 
exiled Iranian political dissidents, who are members of the PMOI, 
including over 1,000 women. The PMOI opposes the current Iranian 
regime, and for their political beliefs they have been exiled from Iran 
and sequestered in Camp Ashraf. Several women detained at Camp Ashraf 
have reported acts of intimidation and threats of physical and sexual 
violence by members of the Iraqi security forces.
  On July 28, 2009, Iraqi Security Forces conducted a raid on the 
detainees at Camp Ashraf. The raid occurred fewer than three months 
after the U.S. passed control of Camp Ashraf to the government of Iraq. 
The raid began on Tuesday, July 28th when Iraqi armored vehicles began 
attacks against the Iranian prisoners. The attacks continued for two 
full days and resulted in the death of 11 exiles and the injury of over 
400 more. As a result of the raid on Camp Ashraf, 36 men were arrested 
under allegations of violent behavior. The 36 arrested Camp Ashraf 
residents have since been freed, but the United States has a continuing 
interest in ensuring that the events of July 28th never occur again.
  Although most of the residents of Camp Ashraf were not religious 
minorities, the Iraqi government's treatment of the camp's residents 
sets a dangerous example. In recent years, there have been alarming 
numbers of religiously motivated killings, abductions, beatings, rapes, 
threats, intimidation, forced conversions, marriages, and displacement 
from homes and businesses, and attacks on religious leaders, pilgrims, 
and holy sites, in Iraq, with the smallest religious minorities in Iraq 
having been among the most vulnerable, although Iraqis from many 
religious communities, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have suffered in 
this violence. In summary, members of small religious minority 
communities in Iraq do not have militia or tribal structures to defend 
them, do not receive adequate official protection, and are legally, 
politically, and economically marginalized.
  This resolution will remind the Iraqi government that minorities of 
any type--be it race, religion, political affiliation, or difference of 
thought--are integral components of a robust civil society and a true 
democracy. I have faith that Iraq can and will achieve such a 
democracy, but we must remember that building democracy requires more 
than a constitution--it requires a commitment to democratic principles.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker. I rise tonight in support of H. Res. 
944, a resolution expressing concern about the situation facing 
religious minorities in Iraq. I'd like to thank my colleague, 
Congressman Peters, for introducing this resolution, and for being a 
persistent champion on this important issue.
  I am proud to cosponsor this resolution, which encourages the United 
States government, the Iraqi government, and the international 
community to take positive steps to protect Iraqi religious minorities.
  Nearly seven years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq faces one of the 
largest displacement crises in the world. The country's religious 
minorities face a particularly desperate situation. Iraqi ethno-
religious minorities, including Iraqi Jews as well as Assyrians, 
Chaldeans, and Syriac Christians, continue to face targeted killings, 
sexual assaults, abductions, and other forms of threats and violence. 
They comprise a disproportionately large percentage of the over 4 
million Iraqis who have been displaced by the ongoing violence and 
instability.
  Those who flee Iraq often encounter a life of crippling poverty. Many 
have great difficulty finding work in their new countries and often 
cannot support their families. They may bear physical and emotional 
scars as a result of years of trauma, tragedy, and abuse. Those who 
stay in Iraq, on the other hand, face a life of constant fear, 
intimidation, and outright violence.
  I have a longstanding concern for Iraq's ethno-religious minorities. 
In particular, I have worked closely with Chicago's vibrant Assyrian 
community on efforts to protect Iraqi religious minorities and provide 
opportunities for refugees. In August of last year I wrote to Secretary 
Clinton, urging her to develop a comprehensive plan for protecting 
these groups. This critical issue is crying out for the attention it 
deserves.
  That's why this resolution is so important. The protection of ethno-
religious minorities must be a component of our overall strategy in 
Iraq, and the United States government must do more in partnership with 
the Iraqi government and the rest of the international community to 
ensure that all Iraqis, regardless of religious affiliation, can live 
free of fear and intimidation.
  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
944. I commend Representative Peters for his valuable work with the 
Caucus on Religious Minorities in the Middle East, which, together with 
my colleague Representative Frank Wolf, I am proud to co-chair. The 
second anniversary of the kidnapping and brutal murder of the Chaldean 
Archbishop of Mosul is a fitting time to remember our responsibility to 
these vulnerable groups both during and in the aftermath of the war.
  As an Assyrian American, I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing 
struggle Iraq's minorities face each day. There have been dozens of 
church burnings, kidnappings, and random acts of violence against 
Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and numerous other minority groups and 
this Resolution calls on the Iraqi government to take meaningful action 
to address their plight.
  Last year, we took an important step by appropriating $10 million to 
assist Iraq's minorities in the Nineveh Plains region. I'm pleased that 
today's Resolution calls on the Iraqi government to protect the people 
in that area. Madam Speaker, for the sake of a free and pluralistic 
Iraq, I urge a ``yes'' vote on today's Resolution.
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 944 and thank 
the Chair and Ranking Member for their efforts to bring this to the 
floor for consideration at such a pivotal time in Iraq.
  A February 6 ABC News story opened with the following observation: 
``Across the Middle East, where Christianity was born and its followers 
once made up a sizable portion of the population, Christians are now 
tiny minorities.''
  This is perhaps no more true than in Iraq. With the exception of 
Israel, the Bible contains more references to the cities, regions and 
nations of ancient Iraq than any other country. The patriarch Abraham 
came from a city in Iraq called Ur. Isaac's bride, Rebekah, came from 
northwest Iraq. Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq and his sons (the 12 
tribes of Israel) were born in northwest Iraq. A remarkable spiritual 
revival as told in the book of Jonah occurred in Nineveh. The events of 
the book of Esther took place in Iraq as did the account of Daniel in 
the Lion's Den.
  Tragically Iraq's ancient Christian community is facing extinction. 
The U.N. High Commission for Refugees estimates that some 250,000 to 
500,000 Christians have left the country since 2003, or about half the 
Christian population. According to the bipartisan U.S. Commission on 
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), ``while Christians and other 
religious minorities represented only approximately 3 percent of the 
pre-2003 Iraqi population, they constitute approximately 15 and 20 
percent of registered Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Syria, respectively, 
and Christians account for 35 and 64 percent, respectively, of all 
registered Iraqi refugees in Lebanon and Turkey.''
  It is critical to note, as the figures above indicate, that the 
violence and intimidation that Iraq's Christians and other vulnerable 
ethno-religious communities have faced is targeted. In July 2008, the 
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration & Refugee Services said 
this about the minority religious communities: ``These groups, whose 
home has been what is now Iraq for many centuries, are literally being 
obliterated--not because they are fleeing generalized violence but 
because they are being specifically and viciously victimized by Islamic 
extremists and, in some cases, common criminals.''
  Reports indicate that since 2003, more than 200 Christians have been 
killed in Iraq, and since June 2004, 65 churches have been attacked or 
bombed. The situation facing these minority communities is not 
improving. In fact there has been a recent uptick in violence in the 
lead up to the elections in Iraq. A Reuters story last week reported 
that, ``With Iraq's

[[Page 1614]]

March 7 parliamentary vote looming, a spike in attacks against 
Christians could be a sign of voter intimidation by factions in the 
bitter Kurd-Arab dispute, or another attempt by al Qaeda to derail the 
election.''
  I have appreciated Ambassador Chris Hill's commitment to this issue. 
In recent correspondence he indicated that ``the security of the 
Christian community remains one of my paramount concerns, especially in 
light of attacks directed at Christian churches in Baghdad and Mosul 
over the past five months.''
  But there needs to be leadership from the highest levels within the 
State Department as well. I have long advocated, both during the 
previous administration and in the current administration, that the 
U.S. needs to adopt a comprehensive policy to address the unique 
situation of these defenseless minorities. This resolution includes 
language urging the Secretary of State to develop just such a strategy.
  It is time for this administration to start taking religious freedom 
seriously. The position of U.S. ambassador for International Religious 
Freedom has been vacant for more than a year while other more junior 
posts have been filled. There's a saying in Washington that personnel 
is policy. When there isn't personnel, the policy inevitably suffers.
  The ancient faith communities of Iraq and others enduring religious 
persecution worldwide deserve a voice. This resolution is a step in the 
right direction.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H. Res. 
944, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on religious 
minorities in Iraq. Today's resolution highlights the struggles of 
Iraqi minorities since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and offers 
solutions for peaceful reconciliation for the Iraqi people.
  Madam Speaker, Southeast Michigan has one of the largest Arab-
American populations outside the Middle East. It is estimated that 
there are well over 300,000 in Michigan, many of whom are Iraqi-
American and are concerned on the future of Iraq. Specifically, the 
bill calls on the United States and United Nations to urge the Iraqi 
government to provide religious minorities with safe places of worship, 
guarantee protection of religious minorities, and ensure legal and 
political rights of this vulnerable population. This is vital because 
many of the more than 2.7 million Iraqi refugees are religious 
minorities.
  Today's resolution will compliment President Obama's commendable plan 
to withdraw from Iraq in the summer of 2011. While withdrawal will do 
much to stabilize and empower the sovereign nation of Iraq, it is also 
important that the United States do its part to actively assist the 
Iraqi people in establishing policies that protect the civil rights and 
liberties of all Iraqi citizens.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud co-
sponsor in strong support of H. Res. 944, expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq.
  Freedom of religion is the beating heart of our American historical 
and political experience. After all, it was the search for a place to 
worship in liberty and dignity that led to the European settlement of 
this continent.
  Our American founding fathers placed paramount importance on the 
right to worship freely and securely, as clear from the first amendment 
to our Constitution, which enshrines the right to free exercise of 
religion.
  We are grateful to live in a country where it is safe to worship 
according to the dictates of one's conscience. We cherish these rights 
and privileges because we know that in many parts of the world--
including Iraq--not all religious minorities can worship as they wish.
  Historically, Iraq is one of the richest and most diverse religious 
mosaics in the world. Its Christian traditions can be traced back to 
the Christian apostles. Yet Iraq today is in a moment of crisis, for 
many of its smallest and most vulnerable religious minorities are 
threatened by the ugly forces of intolerance and intimidation in Iraq.
  In recent years, there has been an alarming surge in Iraq of physical 
and psychological violence against religious minorities, and we must do 
our part to encourage the emphatic rejection of such violence by the 
Iraqi state and society.
  While all Iraqis have suffered greatly in past years, the suffering 
has been most acutely felt by its religious minorities, including 
Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians. Many hundreds of 
thousands of Iraqi Christians have already fled Iraq to escape 
religious turmoil, many of them settling in my own home state of 
Michigan. How this crisis is resolved will be an indicator of the 
future that awaits Iraq.
  Iraq's development into a sovereign, stable, and secure country is of 
immense strategic importance and political responsibility to the United 
States. The world should know that the United States stands with the 
Iraqi people and its elected government against the forces of 
radicalism and intolerance.
  H. Res. 944 advances Iraq's trajectory towards a future of diversity, 
pluralism, and freedom. It will help to internalize and 
institutionalize an environment where religious minorities are 
protected by the Iraqi government.
  Informed by our own American experience, we in this House are obliged 
to encourage Iraq to value the rights and privileges of its religious 
minorities. There is too much at stake for Iraq to fail them. And 
neither can we.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 944, which 
recognizes the persecution and displacement of ethnic and religious 
minorities in Iraq. This resolution calls on the Iraqi and United 
States governments to better protect the rights of persons of all 
ethnicities and religions.
  This resolution comes as the Chaldean community mourns the two-year 
anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Archbishop 
Rahho dedicated his life to the Chaldean Church in Mosul and sought to 
build interfaith relationships while advocating for the inclusion of 
Chaldeans and other vulnerable populations in the new Iraqi state.
  These vulnerable populations include Chaldeans, Assyrians, Turkmen, 
Sabean Mandeans, Yazidis, and Syriacs. Their unique languages and 
histories are among the oldest of the Mesopotamian region. Together, 
they represent the richly diverse heritage of Iraq.
  Since 2003, however, members of their communities have suffered 
marginalization, harassment, and violence. Many have been forced to 
seek safety away from their homes, often outside the country's borders. 
Ethno-religious minorities formerly comprised approximately five 
percent of Iraq's population; today, they comprise almost twenty 
percent of all Iraqi refugees registered with the United Nations 
Refugee Agency.
  Minorities fear such rates of displacement threaten the very future 
of their communities. Continued sectarian violence prevents the free 
exercise of religion, cultural expression, and political participation 
that are fundamental to democracy. This resolution underscores the 
importance that Iraq's upcoming elections be free, fair, and safe, and 
that the rights of its minority populations be protected.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
944 and in urging meaningful support for Iraq's ethnic and religious 
minorities.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I have no further requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the remainder of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McMahon) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 944, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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