[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11834]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
                PLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Wagner). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2013, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Bentivolio) for 30 minutes as the designee of the 
majority leader.
  Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Madam Speaker, there is a lot of uncertainty and 
instability in the Middle East. Violence and chaos are persistent 
themes, and political uprisings, revolutions, insurgencies, and waning 
democracies have controlled the dialogue on the Middle East for the 
last couple of years. But, if you dig a little deeper, you will find 
another story just under the surface, a story that we don't hear quite 
enough about: the plight of Christians as a religious minority in the 
Middle East.
  Just the other day, I had a meeting with a few of my constituents who 
are Coptic Christians, and we discussed many of the issues facing the 
Coptics in Egypt. Coptics are the native Christians of Egypt, who have 
been a part of the Egyptian community since the 5th century A.D. They 
are still one of the largest Christian minorities in the Middle East.
  Coptics in Egypt face growing threats of persecution, violence, and 
restrictions on religious practice. They have been targeted for 
kidnappings. In 2013, St. Mark's Cathedral was attacked during a 
funeral ceremony for Coptics and a Muslim who were killed in prior 
violence.
  After President Morsi was removed from office in July 2013, a wave of 
violence against Christians ensued. Hundreds of churches, homes, and 
businesses were attacked. Violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt 
is nothing new, and I fear that it will persist unless something is 
done to resolve the issue.
  Madam Speaker, in Iraq, Chaldean Christians are facing a dire 
situation as well. I just read a report that two nuns are believed to 
have been kidnapped while they were visiting an orphanage for girls. 
They are believed to have been kidnapped by ISIS.
  Chaldeans are fleeing Iraq at an alarming rate, as many of them have 
sought refuge in my home district in Michigan. They are concerned about 
what is happening in Iraq, as many of them still have family there. 
Churches and homes are being looted and destroyed, and this leaves no 
other option for much of the community than to flee. If the situation 
in Iraq doesn't reverse, it is likely that the majority of Iraq's 
remaining Christian community will have to seek refuge elsewhere.
  Madam Speaker, Assyrians are also continuing to face troubling times 
in the Middle East. Since the beginning of the war in Iraq in 2003, 
Assyrian Christian communities have been targets for attacks. Churches 
and monasteries have been targeted for bombings.
  Assyrians have long been persecuted for their Christian beliefs, and 
they suffered greatly during the Assyrian genocide of the early 1900s 
when nearly 300,000 Assyrians were killed. Like many other Christian 
populations in the Middle East, they have fled and sought refuge 
elsewhere.
  Madam Speaker, in Iran, the harsh persecution of Christians 
continues. According to a UN report, Iran has continually imprisoned 
Christians, citing ``national security'' as the justification.
  Pastor Saeed Abedini is currently the most visible example of 
Christian persecution in Iran. Although there have been numerous calls 
for his release from Congress and from the President, he is still 
sitting in prison. He was sentenced to prison by a judge who has been 
known for religious freedom violations. His trial was decried by human 
rights groups as unfair and unflawed.
  Ethnic Christians, such as Armenians, are often under surveillance or 
are forced to report their activities to the Iranian Government. 
Protestant Christians are also viewed unfavorably by the Iranian 
regime. Furthermore, converts from Islam face particularly harsh 
consequences, as they can be charged with blasphemy or even face 
charges from revolutionary courts for political crimes.
  These countries are all listed by the United States Commission on 
International Religious Freedom as tier 1 countries of particular 
concern, meaning they are the worst perpetrators of religious freedom. 
However, the Secretary of State has not officially recognized either 
Egypt or Iraq as a country of particular concern, likely due to the 
United States' security interests in both of those countries, as a 
designation would carry the likelihood of sanctions.
  Madam Speaker, many of my constituents and I are gravely concerned 
about the plight of Christians as religious minorities in these 
countries and the role the U.S. plays in aiding them.
  Madam Speaker, ``If you want a friend, be a friend.'' This notion 
applies directly to the situation at hand. Religious freedom and human 
rights concerns have long been at the back of the line in U.S. foreign 
policy decisions, and it may be time to rethink our approach. We have 
continually supported regimes that are unfriendly to their people, 
religious and ethnic groups, and even the United States.
  Madam Speaker, if we are going to support foreign governments with 
equipment and funding, we must more thoroughly consider the long-term 
impact of the freedoms of their people and the corresponding impact on 
relations with the United States.
  Countries that continually abuse religious groups, such as 
Christians, are never going to see eye to eye with the United States 
because they lack the fundamental belief in the freedom of religion, 
which is the founding principle of this country.
  If we want friends in the Middle East, we have to encourage respect 
for religious freedom and diversity, not just build strong governments 
and militaries. If we do this, strong relationships with these 
countries will be an inevitable outcome, and they will be more stable 
as a result.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

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