[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14797-14798]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO PASTOR YOUCEF NADARKHANI

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I would like to take a few moments to share 
a rare piece of good news related to international religious freedom. 
On October 11 of last year I submitted for the Record the story of a 
Christian pastor in Iran who had been charged with apostasy and 
sentenced to death. Earlier this month, after almost 3 years of 
imprisonment, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been released and is at home 
with his family.
  The good news for Pastor Youcef comes after years of struggle, and we 
can only imagine the joy his own family feels after a long, difficult 
fight for his freedom. Many organizations and individuals, often 
risking their own lives, deserve thanks for their enduring commitment 
to Pastor Youcef's cause. Pastor Youcef's enduring faith in God saw him 
through this trying time and his experience is an inspiration to people 
of faith everywhere.
  This moment of relief and thanksgiving comes as a reminder that the 
liberties we enjoy as Americans come at a high price to those who have 
fought and continue to fight for our freedoms. And too many people in 
countries like Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Pakistan, to name a few, still do 
not enjoy the basic human rights you and I have here at home.
  The persecution of religious minorities and Christians like Pastor 
Youcef abroad is unfortunately nothing new. That's why I introduced the 
Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act in June of last 
year. The bill came out of coordination with U.S. Congressman Frank 
Wolf in the House and my colleague, U.S. Senator Carl Levin. It creates 
a special envoy on religious freedom in the State Department to monitor 
the status of religious minorities in these particularly vulnerable 
regions.
  We can and we must do more to advance religious freedom abroad. I am 
sincerely committed to this effort and believe that it is essential to 
promoting the God-given right to liberty around the world. My 
colleagues and I are hopeful that the Senate can soon join the House in 
passing this important legislation.

                 RECOGNIZING THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize The City Club 
of Cleveland, the oldest continuously operating free speech forum in 
the country.
  Often referred to as a ``Citadel of Free Speech,'' The City Club 
offers an unbiased setting for dynamic discussions and exchange of 
ideas on important issues of interest to citizens and communities 
throughout Ohio and the United States. The City Club has succeeded in 
its mission to inform, educate and inspire citizens by presenting 
significant ideas and providing opportunities for dialog in a collegial 
setting, and has secured its place in history as an impartial, vital 
center for discussion of diverse topics.
  The City Club forums encourage active debate and participation by the 
audience. Over the years, local, national and international leaders 
have

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been featured as speakers and have addressed a wide variety of subjects 
which have impacted our region, state and Nation. These sessions 
encourage nonpartisan, spirited debate and discussion about important 
topics. I have been honored to speak at the City Club on several 
occasions and have enjoyed the robust dialog.
  I would like to congratulate The City Club of Cleveland on 100 years 
of success.

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