,,iii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #eb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #d1 #bjbe,mr4 ,lankford 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 and ,mr4 ,kaine7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing religious freedom as a fundamental right1 expressing support for international religious freedom as a cornerstone of ,united ,states foreign policy1 and expressing concern over increased threats to and attacks on religious freedom around the world4 ,whereas freedom of religion is a fundamental right2 ,whereas the ,first ,amendment of the ,constitution stipulates that ,congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion1 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof2 ,whereas1 in pushing for religious freedom in the ,commonwealth of ,virginia1 ,james ,madison argued that the right to freedom of religion is precedent1 both in order of time and in degree of obligation1 to the claims of ,civil ,society2 ,whereas freedom of religion is a foundational element of democracy1 human rights1 and the rule of law in the ,united ,states and abroad1 as well as a guiding principle for ,united ,states foreign policy2 ,whereas ,article #ah of the ,united ,nations ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights states ,everyone has the right to freedom of thought1 conscience and religion2 this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief1 and freedom1 either alone or in community with others and in public or private1 to manifest his religion or belief in teaching1 practice1 worship1 and observance2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,commission on ,international ,religious ,freedom stipulates that freedom of religion or belief is an expansive right that includes the freedoms of thought1 conscience1 expression1 association1 and assembly2 ,whereas the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq47 recognizes religious freedom as a universal human right2 ,whereas the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq47 requires the ,president to annually designate as a country of particular concern each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated particularly severe religious freedom violations1 including-- 7#a7 systematic1 ongoing1 and egregious violations such as torture2 7#b7 cruel1 inhuman1 or degrading treatment or punishment2 7#c7 prolonged detention without charges2 and 7#d7 forced disappearances2 ,whereas1 on ,december #bi1 #bjbc1 the ,state ,department designated ,burma1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 ,cuba1 ,eritrea1 ,iran1 the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea1 ,nicaragua1 ,pakistan1 ,russia1 ,saudi ,arabia1 ,tajikistan1 and ,turkmenistan as countries of particular concern2 ,whereas the ,frank ,r4 ,wolf ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act 7,public ,law #aad-bha2acj ,stat4 #adbf7 requires the ,president to annually designate countries with severe religious freedom violations that do not reach the threshold of systematic1 ongoing1 and egregious violations to a ,special ,watch ,list2 ,whereas1 on ,december #bi1 #bjbc1 the ,state ,department designated ,algeria1 ,azerbaijan1 the ,central ,african ,republic1 ,comoros1 and ,vietnam as ,special ,watch ,list countries2 ,whereas1 to enhance accountability for global human rights violations1 including violations of religious freedom1 ,president ,joseph ,r4 ,biden signed the permanent authorization of the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note7 into law on ,april #h1 #bjbb2 ,whereas the ,senate passed a resolution calling for the global repeal of blasphemy1 heresy1 and apostasy laws in #bjbj 7,senate ,resolution #deh1 #aafth ,congress1 agreed to ,december #ai1 #bjbj72 ,whereas1 in #bjbc and #bjbd1 threats to religious freedom worsened around the world1 including incidents targeting the exercise of religion in public or private1 participation in religious advocacy1 conversion from one religion to another1 engagement in religious practices broadly1 and those choosing to have no faith at all2 ,whereas there were thousands of incidents wherein religious freedom was violated in #bjbc1 including-- 7#a7 the targeting of #b1bbh individuals by #bg countries and entities2 7#b7 the imprisonment of #a1dia individuals2 7#c7 the ongoing imprisonment of #a1caa individuals2 and 7#d7 the death of #i individuals while in custody2 ,whereas1 as of #bjbd1 there are #if countries with legislation criminalizing blasphemy used to enforce arbitrary limitations on religious freedom of expression2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state has determined that religious minorities continue to be victims of genocides that relate to matters of religious freedom1 including in-- 7#a7 ,burma1 where security forces have committed crimes against humanity and genocide against ,rohingya ,muslims since #bjag1 including the systematic killing1 torture1 and confinement of ,rohingyas to small1 overcrowded camps without freedom of movement or access to adequate food1 health care1 and education2 and 7#b7 ,china1 where since #bjag the ,chinese government has committed crimes against humanity and genocide against ,uyghurs1 including by-- 7,a7 imprisoning more than #a1jjj1jjj ,uyghurs in re-education camps2 7,b7 subjecting ,uyghur women to forced sterilizations and abortions2 7,c7 deliberately separating ,uyghur families2 7,d7 instituting government surveillance through intrusive homestay programs2 and 7,e7 eliminating the ,uyghur language from educational materials2 ,whereas religious minorities face harassment1 intimidation1 violence1 and imprisonment from state and non-state actors around the world1 including in-- 7#a7 ,afghanistan1 where the ,taliban has rigorously enforced its harsh interpretation of ,shari'a law that violates the freedom of religion or belief of religious minorities1 including ,christians1 ,ahmadiyya ,muslims1 ,baha'is1 and nonbelievers who face imprisonment or death if discovered2 7#b7 ,burma1 where in addition to violence targeted at religious minorities1 strict laws in favor of the ,buddhist majority regulate religious conversion1 marriages1 and births of non-,buddhists such as ,muslims and ,christians2 7#c7 ,china1 where the government utilizes targeted surveillance to monitor1 harass1 and detain ,christians1 ,tibetan ,buddhists1 ,falun ,gong practitioners1 ,uyghur ,muslims1 and other religious minorities for exercising their beliefs2 7#d7 ,cuba1 where the government subjects religious leaders and groups that are unregistered through its ,office of ,religious ,affairs to detention1 interrogation1 imprisonment1 and confiscation of property2 7#e7 ,india1 where laws promoting religiously discriminatory policies1 including laws that target religious conversion1 interfaith relationships1 the wearing of hijabs1 and cow slaughter1 have been implemented at the national1 state1 and local levels and negatively impact the livelihoods of ,muslims1 ,christians1 ,sikhs1 ,dalits1 and ,adivasis2 7#f7 ,iran1 where the government disproportionately subjects members of religious minorities such as ,baha'is1 ,christians1 ,gonabadi ,dervishes1 and ,sunni ,muslims to amputations1 floggings1 detention1 harassment1 surveillance1 executions1 and exile2 7#g7 ,nicaragua1 where the government arbitrarily detains and exiles religious clerics and leaders who advocate for the rights of religious minorities and criticize the government's persecution of the ,roman ,catholic ,church2 7#h7 ,nigeria1 where the government's enforcement of blasphemy laws embedded in ,nigeria's criminal and ,shari'a codes results in the arbitrary detainment and imprisonment of those who express their religious identity2 7#i7 ,north ,korea1 where any religion contrary to the ruling ideology known as ,kimilsungism-,kimjongilism is deemed an existential threat to the state2 7#aj7 ,pakistan1 where religious minorities face killings1 lynchings1 mob violence1 forced conversions1 and sexual violence for their religious identities2 7#aa7 ,russia1 where laws on terrorism and extremism are used to target religious minorities such as ,jehovah's ,witnesses1 ,muslims1 and members of the ,ukrainian ,greek-,catholic ,church for their beliefs2 7#ab7 ,tajikistan1 where the government represses the display of public religiosity by individuals of all faiths and institutes strict restrictions against ,muslims1 including a ban on beards and hijabs2 7#ac7 ,turkmenistan1 where the government controls all aspects of religious life and expression1 monitors religious practice1 and punishes nonconformity through administrative harassment1 imprisonment1 and torture2 and 7#ad7 ,russian-occupied areas of ,ukraine1 where the ,russian military has reportedly perpetrated at least #dc cases of targeted persecution of the clergy and more than #aji acts pressuring churches and religious figures representing ,orthodox ,christians1 ,ukrainian ,greek-,catholics1 ,roman ,catholics1 ,protestants1 ,muslims1 and ,jehovah's ,witnesses since the launch of its full-scale invasion in ,february #bjbb2 ,whereas violent extremists and non-state actors continue to capitalize upon violence and instability in countries to perpetrate serious human rights violations against religious minorities1 including in-- 7#a7 ,latin ,america1 where criminal gangs and paramilitary groups threaten and displace indigenous communities1 destroy places of worship1 and forcibly require conversion or renunciation of ancestral practices2 7#b7 ,nigeria1 where violent1 non-state militant groups such as ,boko ,haram target ,christians1 as well as persons engaged in un-,islamic activities1 including ,muslim critics and elders2 7#c7 the ,sahel region of ,africa1 where violent extremist organizations threaten violence against ,christians who do not convert to ,islam2 7#d7 ,syria1 where violent extremist organizations restrict the religious freedom of non-confirming ,sunni ,muslims and threaten the property1 safety1 and existence of religious minority groups such as ,alawites1 ,christians1 and ,druze2 and 7#e7 ,yemen1 where the ,houthi rebels harass1 defame1 and incite hatred against vulnerable faith communities including the ,christians1 ,baha'is1 ,jews1 and non-religious persons who continue to be forced to flee to the south of the country or leave ,yemen entirely2 and ,whereas religious sites continue to be damaged or destroyed1 especially in areas of conflict1 including in-- 7#a7 ,burma1 where the military junta has destroyed approximately #bjj houses of worship and religious sites such as ,buddhist monasteries1 churches1 and mosques1 and has occupied religious compounds for use as military bases2 7#b7 ,china1 where the government has destroyed mosques1 shrines1 gravesites1 and other religious and cultural sites throughout ,xinjiang and the country2 7#c7 ,ethiopia1 where ongoing violence between the government and non-state actors has led to drone strikes and attacks on church compounds such as the ,full ,gospel ,church in the ,oromiya region in which #h people were killed2 7#d7 ,india1 where places of worship such as ,christian churches and ,muslim madrasas continue to be destroyed1 especially those in predominantly ,christian and ,muslim neighborhoods2 7#e7 ,nigeria1 where violent1 non-state groups1 such as ,boko ,haram1 attack population centers and religious targets1 including churches and mosques2 7#f7 ,sudan1 where members of the ,rapid ,support ,forces attacked a ,coptic ,christian monastery and raided the ,sudanese ,episcopal ,church in ,khartoum1 using both as bases for military operations2 and 7#g7 ,ukraine1 where over #fjj religious buildings have been damaged or destroyed since ,russia's full-scale invasion of the country began in ,february #bjbb3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 recognizes religious freedom as a fundamental human right2 7#b7 recognizes the critical importance of religious freedom in-- 7,a7 supporting democracy1 good governance1 and the rule of law2 7,b7 encouraging pluralism and robust political participation2 and 7,c7 fostering global stability and peace2 7#c7 expresses grave concern over threats to religious freedom around the world1 such as through harassment1 violence1 and imprisonment2 7#d7 condemns all efforts to suppress religious freedom1 including through the criminalization of-- 7,a7 religious exercise in public or private2 7,b7 the choice to have no faith2 7,c7 conversion from one religion to another2 7,d7 advocacy for religious freedom2 7,e7 sharing and spreading religious messages and educational materials2 and 7,f7 construction and maintenance of religious holy sites2 7#e7 supports the invaluable work of religious freedom advocates in fighting for greater religious freedom around the world2 and 7#f7 urges the ,department of ,state to-- 7,a7 continue robust bilateral and multilateral engagement with allies and partners on religious freedom2 7,b7 maintain and expand support for human rights activists1 journalists1 and civil society leaders working to protect religious freedom in countries of particular concern and ,special ,watch ,list countries2 7,c7 leverage all diplomatic and sanctions tools available to the ,united ,states ,government to hold religious freedom violators accountable for their actions1 including those authorized by the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq472 7,d7 continue to impose sanctions on those responsible for violations of religious freedom pursuant to the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note72 7,e7 consider human rights abuses and religious freedom violations in prioritizing partners for free trade agreements2 and 7,f7 promote religious freedom as an utmost priority for the ,united ,states in implementation of ,united ,states foreign policy4