,,iii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #dec ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ba1 #bjad ,mr4 ,rubio 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,inhofe1 ,mrs4 ,fischer1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 ,mr4 ,vitter1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,ms4 ,ayotte1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,roberts1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,wisconsin1 ,mr4 ,isakson1 ,mr4 ,burr1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 and ,mr4 ,coburn7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,condemning the death sentence against ,meriam ,yahia ,ibrahim ,ishag1 a ,sudanese ,christian woman accused of apostasy4 ,whereas1 on ,may #ae1 #bjad1 a ,sudanese court affirmed a sentence of death by hanging for #bg-year-old ,meriam ,yahia ,ibrahim ,ishag1 a ,christian woman accused of apostasy for refusing to recant her ,christian faith1 and ordered her to receive #ajj lashes for adultery because under ,sudan's ,shari'ah law such inter-religious marriages are illegal2 ,whereas ,ibrahim is eight months pregnant and being held in the ,omdurman ,federal ,women's ,prison with her #bj-month-old son2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state has designated ,sudan as a ,country of ,particular ,concern under the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7,public ,law #aje-bib7 based on the government's systematic1 ongoing1 and egregious violations of religious freedom since #aiii2 ,whereas the ,sudanese #aiia ,criminal ,code allows for death sentences for apostasy1 stoning for adultery1 cross-amputations for theft1 prison sentences for blasphemy1 and floggings for undefined acts of indecency2 ,whereas1 according to the ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom 7,,uscirf71 the ,government of ,sudan1 led by ,president ,omar ,hassan al-,bashir1 continues to engage in systematic1 ongoing1 and egregious violations of religious freedom or belief1 imposes a restrictive interpretation of ,shari'ah law on ,muslims and non-,muslims alike and1 along with other ,national ,congress ,party leaders1 ,president al-,bashir has stated that ,sudan's new constitution1 when drafted1 will be based on its interpretation of ,shari'ah2 ,whereas1 according to ,,uscirf1 since ,south ,sudan's independence from ,sudan in #bjaa1 the number and severity of harsh ,shari'ah-based judicial decisions in ,sudan has increased1 including sentences of amputation for theft and sentences of stoning for adultery2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has designated ,sudan as a ,state ,sponsor of ,terrorism since ,august #ab1 #aiic1 for repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism2 ,whereas the ,sudanese #bjje ,interim ,constitution states that the ,state shall respect the religious rights to 7a7 worship or assemble in connection with any religion or belief2 ,whereas the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 which the ,government of ,sudan has acceded1 provides that everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought1 conscience4 and religion4 ,this right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice1 and freedom1 either individually or in community with others1 and in public or private1 to manifest his religion or belief in worship1 observance1 practice1 and teaching42 ,whereas the ,pew ,research ,center's ,forum on ,religion ,public ,life found that1 as of #bjaa1 #aj percent of the #aih countries surveyed had apostasy laws which can1 and have been1 used to punish both ,muslims and non-,muslims in countries such as ,afghanistan1 ,pakistan1 ,morocco1 and ,sudan2 and ,whereas people have the right to practice their faith without fear of death or persecution3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 condemns the charge of apostasy and death sentence of ,meriam ,yahia ,ibrahim ,ishag and calls for immediate and unconditional release of her and her son2 7#b7 encourages efforts by the ,united ,states ,government to support religious freedom within ,sudan1 including by requiring1 before normalizing relations or lifting sanctions under the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7,public ,law #aje-bib7 and the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq471 that the ,government of ,sudan abide by international standards of freedom of religion or belief2 7#c7 urges the ,government of ,sudan to ensure that1 when drafting the country's new constitution1 the process is transparent and inclusive of civil society leaders and representatives of all major political parties1 to ensure that the new constitution includes protections for freedom of religion or belief1 respect for international human rights commitments1 and recognition of ,sudan as a multireligious1 multiethnic1 and multicultural nation2 7#d7 recognizes that every individual regardless of religion should have the opportunity to practice his or her religion without fear of discrimination2 7#e7 reaffirms the commitment of the ,united ,states ,government to end religious discrimination and to pursue policies that guarantee the basic human rights of all individuals worldwide2 and 7#f7 encourages the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development to continue their support for initiatives worldwide that support religious freedom4