,,iii ,cal5d> ,no4 #aje #aai? ,,congress
  #a/ ,session  ,s4 ,,res4 #eb  ,,9 ,,! 
,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates         
,febru>y #d1 #bjbe,mr4 ,lank=d 7=       
himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4
 ,ka9e1 ,mrs4 ,britt1 ,mr4 ,k+1 ,mr4    
,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,da9es1 & ,ms4 ,ros57     
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,relations  ,june #bf 7legislative day1 
,june #bd71 #bjbe,report$ by ,mr4 ,ris*1
 )\t am5dm5t  ,,resolution  ,recogniz+  
religi\s fre$om z a fundam5tal "r1      
express+ support = int]national religi\s
 fre$om z a corn]/one ( ,unit$ ,/ates   
=eign policy1 & express+ conc]n ov]     
increas$ ?reats to & attacks on religi\s
 fre$om ar\nd ! _w4  ,:]eas fre$om (    
religion is a fundam5tal "r2 ,:]eas !   
,fir/ ,am5dm5t ( ! ,con/itution         
/ipulates t ,congress %all make no law  
respect+ an e/abli%m5t ( religion1 or   
prohibit+ ! free ex]cise !re(2 ,:]eas1 9
 pu%+ = religi\s fre$om 9 ! ,commonweal?
 ( ,virg9ia1 ,james ,madison argu$ t !  

"r to fre$om ( religion is prec$5t1 bo? 
9 ord] ( "t & 9 degree ( obligation1 to 
! claims ( ,civil ,society2 ,:]eas      
fre$om ( religion is a f\ndational      
elem5t ( democracy1 human rights1 & !   
rule ( law 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & abroad1 z
 well z a guid+ pr9ciple = ,unit$ ,/ates
 =eign policy2 ,:]eas ,article #ah ( !  
,unit$ ,nations ,univ]sal ,decl>ation ( 
,human ,rights /ates ,ev]yone has ! "r  
to fre$om ( ?\ght1 consci5ce & religion2
 ?is "r includes fre$om to *ange 8      
religion or belief1 & fre$om1 ei!r alone
 or 9 community ) o!rs & 9 public or    
private1 to manife/ 8 religion or belief
 9 tea*+1 practice1 wor%ip1 & obs]vance2
 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on  
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om         
/ipulates t fre$om ( religion or belief 
is an expansive "r t includes ! fre$oms 
( ?\ght1 consci5ce1 expression1         
association1 & assembly2 ,:]eas !       
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq47     
recognizes religi\s fre$om z a univ]sal 

human "r2 ,:]eas ! ,int]national        
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb     
,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq47 requires !     
,presid5t to annually designate z a     
c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n ea* c\ntry !   
gov]nm5t ( :i* has engag$ 9 or tol]at$  
p>ticul>ly sev]e religi\s fre$om        
violations1 includ+-- 7#a7 sy/ematic1   
ongo+1 & egregi\s violations su* z      
torture2  7#b7 cruel1 inhuman1 or       
degrad+ treatm5t or puni%m5t2  7#c7     
prolong$ det5tion )\t *>ges2 &  7#d7 =c$
 disappe>ances2 ,:]eas1 on ,decemb] #bi1
 #bjbc1 ! ,/ate ,dep>tm5t designat$     
,burma1 ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a1 ,cuba1 
,eritrea1 ,iran1 ! ,democratic ,p's     
,republic ( ,korea1 ,nic>agua1 ,paki/an1
 ,russia1 ,saudi ,arabia1 ,tajiki/an1 & 
,turkm5i/an z c\ntries ( p>ticul>       
conc]n2 ,:]eas ! ,frank ,r4 ,wolf       
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act    
7,public ,law #aad-bha2acj ,/at4 #adbf7 
requires ! ,presid5t to annually        
designate c\ntries ) sev]e religi\s     
fre$om violations t d n rea* ! ?re%old (

 sy/ematic1 ongo+1 & egregi\s violations
 to a ,special ,wat* ,li/2 ,:]eas1 on   
,decemb] #bi1 #bjbc1 ! ,/ate ,dep>tm5t  
designat$ ,alg]ia1 ,az]baijan1 ! ,c5tral
 ,african ,republic1 ,comoros1 &        
,vietnam z ,special ,wat* ,li/ c\ntries2
 ,:]eas1 to enhance acc\ntability =     
global human rights violations1 includ+ 
violations ( religi\s fre$om1 ,presid5t 
,joseph ,r4 ,bid5 sign$ ! p]man5t       
au?orization ( ! ,global ,magnitsky     
,human ,rights ,acc\ntability ,act 7#bb 
,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note7 into law on ,april
 #h1 #bjbb2 ,:]eas ! ,s5ate pass$ a     
resolution call+ = ! global repeal (    
blasphemy1 h]esy1 & apo/asy laws 9 #bjbj
 7,s5ate ,resolution #deh1 #aaf?        
,congress1 agre$ to ,decemb] #ai1       
#bjbj72 ,:]eas1 9 #bjbc & #bjbd1 ?reats 
to religi\s fre$om wors5$ ar\nd ! _w1   
includ+ incid5ts t>get+ ! ex]cise (     
religion 9 public or private1           
p>ticipation 9 religi\s advocacy1       
conv]sion f "o religion to ano!r1       
engagem5t 9 religi\s practices broadly1 

& ^? *oos+ to h no fai? at all2 ,:]eas  
!re 7 ?\s&s ( incid5ts :]e9 religi\s    
fre$om 0 violat$ 9 #bjbc1 includ+-- 7#a7
 ! t>get+ ( #b1bbh individuals by #bg   
c\ntries & entities2  7#b7 ! imprisonm5t
 ( #a1dia individuals2  7#c7 ! ongo+    
imprisonm5t ( #a1caa individuals2 &     
7#d7 ! dea? ( #i individuals :ile 9     
cu/ody2 ,:]eas1 z ( #bjbd1 !re are #if  
c\ntries ) legislation crim9aliz+       
blasphemy us$ to en=ce arbitr>y         
limitations on religi\s fre$om (        
expression2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate  
has det]m9$ t religi\s m9orities cont9ue
 to be victims ( g5ocides t relate to   
matt]s ( religi\s fre$om1 includ+ 9--   
7#a7 ,burma1 :]e security =ces h        
committ$ crimes aga9/ humanity & g5ocide
 aga9/ ,roh+ya ,muslims s9ce #bjag1     
includ+ ! sy/ematic kill+1 torture1 &   
conf9em5t ( ,roh+yas to small1 ov]cr[d$ 
camps )\t fre$om ( movem5t or access to 
adequate food1 heal? c>e1 & education2 &
  7#b7 ,*9a1 :]e s9ce #bjag ! ,*9ese    
gov]nm5t has committ$ crimes aga9/      

humanity & g5ocide aga9/ ,uyghurs1      
includ+ by-- 7,a7 imprison+ m ?an       
#a1jjj1jjj ,uyghurs 9 re-education      
camps2  7,b7 subject+ ,uyghur wom5 to   
=c$ /]ilizations & abortions2  7,c7     
delib]ately sep>at+ ,uyghur families2   
7,d7 in/itut+ gov]nm5t surveillance     
?r\gh intrusive home/ay programs2 &     
7,e7 elim9at+ ! ,uyghur language f      
educational mat]ials2  ,:]eas religi\s  
m9orities face h>assm5t1 intimidation1  
viol5ce1 & imprisonm5t f /ate & non-/ate
 actors ar\nd ! _w1 includ+ 9-- 7#a7    
,afghani/an1 :]e ! ,taliban has         
rigor\sly en=c$ its h>% int]pretation ( 
,%>i'a law t violates ! fre$om (        
religion or belief ( religi\s m9orities1
 includ+ ,*ri/ians1 ,ahmadiyya ,muslims1
 ,baha'is1 & nonbeliev]s :o face        
imprisonm5t or dea? if discov]$2  7#b7  
,burma1 :]e 9 addition to viol5ce t>get$
 at religi\s m9orities1 /rict laws 9    
favor ( ! ,buddhi/ majority regulate    
religi\s conv]sion1 m>riages1 & bir?s ( 
non-,buddhi/s su* z ,muslims &          

,*ri/ians2  7#c7 ,*9a1 :]e ! gov]nm5t   
utilizes t>get$ surveillance to monitor1
 h>ass1 & deta9 ,*ri/ians1 ,tibetan     
,buddhi/s1 ,falun ,gong practition]s1   
,uyghur ,muslims1 & o!r religi\s        
m9orities = ex]cis+ _! beliefs2  7#d7   
,cuba1 :]e ! gov]nm5t subjects religi\s 
lead]s & gr\ps t are unregi/]$ ?r\gh its
 ,(fice ( ,religi\s ,affairs to         
det5tion1 int]rogation1 imprisonm5t1 &  
confiscation ( prop]ty2  7#e7 ,india1   
:]e laws promot+ religi\sly             
discrim9atory policies1 includ+ laws t  
t>get religi\s conv]sion1 int]fai?      
relation%ips1 ! we>+ ( hijabs1 & c[     
slaught]1 h be5 implem5t$ at ! national1
 /ate1 & local levels & negatively      
impact ! livelihoods ( ,muslims1        
,*ri/ians1 ,sikhs1 ,dalits1 & ,adivasis2
  7#f7 ,iran1 :]e ! gov]nm5t            
disproportionately subjects memb]s (    
religi\s m9orities su* z ,baha'is1      
,*ri/ians1 ,gonabadi ,d]vi%es1 & ,sunni 
,muslims to amputations1 flogg+s1       
det5tion1 h>assm5t1 surveillance1       

executions1 & exile2  7#g7 ,nic>agua1   
:]e ! gov]nm5t arbitr>ily deta9s &      
exiles religi\s cl]ics & lead]s :o      
advocate = ! rights ( religi\s m9orities
 & criticize ! gov]nm5t's p]secution ( !
 ,roman ,ca?olic ,*ur*2  7#h7 ,nig]ia1  
:]e ! gov]nm5t's en=cem5t ( blasphemy   
laws emb$d$ 9 ,nig]ia's crim9al & ,%>i'a
 codes results 9 ! arbitr>y deta9m5t &  
imprisonm5t ( ^? :o express _! religi\s 
id5tity2  7#i7 ,nor? ,korea1 :]e any    
religion contr>y to ! rul+ ideology kn[n
 z ,kimilsungism-,kimjongilism is deem$ 
an exi/5tial ?reat to ! /ate2  7#aj7    
,paki/an1 :]e religi\s m9orities face   
kill+s1 lyn*+s1 mob viol5ce1 =c$        
conv]sions1 & sexual viol5ce = _!       
religi\s id5tities2  7#aa7 ,russia1 :]e 
laws on t]rorism & extremism are us$ to 
t>get religi\s m9orities su* z          
,jehovah's ,witnesses1 ,muslims1 &      
memb]s ( ! ,ukra9ian ,greek-,ca?olic    
,*ur* = _! beliefs2  7#ab7 ,tajiki/an1  
:]e ! gov]nm5t represses ! display (    
public religiosity by individuals ( all 

fai?s & in/itutes /rict re/rictions     
aga9/ ,muslims1 includ+ a ban on be>ds &
 hijabs2  7#ac7 ,turkm5i/an1 :]e !      
gov]nm5t controls all aspects ( religi\s
 life & expression1 monitors religi\s   
practice1 & puni%es noncon=mity ?r\gh   
adm9i/rative h>assm5t1 imprisonm5t1 &   
torture2 &  7#ad7 ,russian-occupi$ areas
 ( ,ukra9e1 :]e ! ,russian milit>y has  
report$ly p]petrat$ at lea/ #dc cases ( 
t>get$ p]secution ( ! cl]gy & m ?an #aji
 acts pressur+ *ur*es & religi\s figures
 repres5t+ ,or?odox ,*ri/ians1 ,ukra9ian
 ,greek-,ca?olics1 ,roman ,ca?olics1    
,prote/ants1 ,muslims1 & ,jehovah's     
,witnesses s9ce ! laun* ( its full-scale
 invasion 9 ,febru>y #bjbb2 ,:]eas      
viol5t extremi/s & non-/ate actors      
cont9ue to capitalize ^u viol5ce &      
in/ability 9 c\ntries to p]petrate s]i\s
 human rights violations aga9/ religi\s 
m9orities1 includ+ 9-- 7#a7 ,lat9       
,am]ica1 :]e crim9al gangs & p>amilit>y 
gr\ps ?reat5 & displace indig5\s        
communities1 de/roy places ( wor%ip1 &  

=cibly require conv]sion or r5unciation 
( ance/ral practices2  7#b7 ,nig]ia1 :]e
 viol5t1 non-/ate militant gr\ps su* z  
,boko ,h>am t>get ,*ri/ians1 z well z   
p]sons engag$ 9 un-,islamic activities1 
includ+ ,muslim critics & eld]s2  7#c7 !
 ,sahel region ( ,africa1 :]e viol5t    
extremi/ organizations ?reat5 viol5ce   
aga9/ ,*ri/ians :o d n conv]t to ,islam2
  7#d7 ,syria1 :]e viol5t extremi/      
organizations re/rict ! religi\s fre$om 
( non-confirm+ ,sunni ,muslims & ?reat5 
! prop]ty1 safety1 & exi/5ce ( religi\s 
m9ority gr\ps su* z ,alawites1          
,*ri/ians1 & ,druze2 &  7#e7 ,yem51 :]e 
! ,h\?i rebels h>ass1 defame1 & incite  
hatr$ aga9/ vuln]able fai? communities  
includ+ ! ,*ri/ians1 ,baha'is1 ,jews1 & 
non-religi\s p]sons :o cont9ue to be =c$
 to flee to ! s\? ( ! c\ntry or leave   
,yem5 entirely2 & ,:]eas religi\s sites 
cont9ue to be damag$ or de/roy$1        
especially 9 areas ( conflict1 includ+  
9-- 7#a7 ,burma1 :]e ! milit>y junta has
 de/roy$ approximately #bjj h\ses (     

wor%ip & religi\s sites su* z ,buddhi/  
mona/]ies1 *ur*es1 & mosques1 & has     
occupi$ religi\s comp\nds = use z       
milit>y bases2  7#b7 ,*9a1 :]e !        
gov]nm5t has de/roy$ mosques1 %r9es1    
gravesites1 & o!r religi\s & cultural   
sites ?r\gh\t ,x9jiang & ! c\ntry2  7#c7
 ,e?iopia1 :]e ongo+ viol5ce betwe5 !   
gov]nm5t & non-/ate actors has l$ to    
drone /rikes & attacks on *ur* comp\nds 
su* z ! ,full ,gospel ,*ur* 9 ! ,oromiya
 region 9 :i* #h p 7 kill$2  7#d7       
,india1 :]e places ( wor%ip su* z       
,*ri/ian *ur*es & ,muslim madrasas      
cont9ue to be de/roy$1 especially ^? 9  
pr$om9antly ,*ri/ian & ,muslim          
neighborhoods2  7#e7 ,nig]ia1 :]e       
viol5t1 non-/ate gr\ps1 su* z ,boko     
,h>am1 attack population c5t]s &        
religi\s t>gets1 includ+ *ur*es &       
mosques2  7#f7 ,sudan1 :]e memb]s ( !   
,rapid ,support ,=ces attack$ a ,coptic 
,*ri/ian mona/]y & raid$ ! ,sudanese    
,episcopal ,*ur* 9 ,kh>t\m1 us+ bo? z   
bases = milit>y op]ations2 &  7#g7      

,ukra9e1 :]e ov] #fjj religi\s build+s h
 be5 damag$ or de/roy$ s9ce ,russia's   
full-scale invasion ( ! c\ntry began 9  
,febru>y #bjbb3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t !  
,s5ate-- 7#a7 recognizes religi\s fre$om
 z a fundam5tal human "r2  7#b7         
recognizes ! critical importance (      
religi\s fre$om 9-- 7,a7 support+       
democracy1 good gov]nance1 & ! rule (   
law2  7,b7 enc\rag+ pluralism & robu/   
political p>ticipation2 &  7,c7 fo/]+   
global /ability & peace2  7#c7 expresses
 grave conc]n ov] ?reats to religi\s    
fre$om ar\nd ! _w1 su* z ?r\gh h>assm5t1
 viol5ce1 & imprisonm5t2  7#d7 condemns 
all ef=ts to suppress religi\s fre$om1  
includ+ ?r\gh ! crim9alization (-- 7,a7 
religi\s ex]cise 9 public or private2   
7,b7 ! *oice to h no fai?2  7,c7        
conv]sion f "o religion to ano!r2  7,d7 
advocacy = religi\s fre$om2  7,e7 %>+ & 
spread+ religi\s messages & educational 
mat]ials2 &  7,f7 con/ruction &         
ma9t5ance ( religi\s holy sites2  7#e7  
supports ! invaluable "w ( religi\s     

fre$om advocates 9 fight+ = great]      
religi\s fre$om ar\nd ! _w2 &  7#f7     
urges ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate to-- 7,a7     
cont9ue robu/ bilat]al & multilat]al    
engagem5t ) allies & p>tn]s on religi\s 
fre$om2  7,b7 ma9ta9 & exp& support =   
human rights activi/s1 j\rnali/s1 &     
civil society lead]s work+ to protect   
religi\s fre$om 9 c\ntries ( p>ticul>   
conc]n & ,special ,wat* ,li/ c\ntries2  
7,c7 lev]age all diplomatic & sanctions 
tools available to ! ,unit$ ,/ates      
,gov]nm5t to hold religi\s fre$om       
violators acc\ntable = _! actions1      
includ+ ^? au?oriz$ by ! ,int]national  
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb     
,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq472  7,d7 cont9ue 
to impose sanctions on ^? responsible = 
violations ( religi\s fre$om pursuant to
 ! ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights    
,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note72  7,e7  
consid] human rights abuses & religi\s  
fre$om violations 9 prioritiz+ p>tn]s = 
free trade agreem5ts2 &  7,f7 promote   
religi\s fre$om z an utmo/ priority = ! 

,unit$ ,/ates 9 implem5tation ( ,unit$  
,/ates =eign policy4  ,june #bf         
7legislative day1 ,june #bd71           
#bjbe,report$ )\t am5dm5t