AJCommittee Hails Senate Passage Of International Religious Freedom Act

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 9 October 1998

The American Jewish Committee hails today's action by the United States Senate in passing the International Religious Freedom Act (H.R.2431) by an overwhelming margin as a fitting tribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in its 50th anniversary year.

"Ending religious persecution abroad merits the high profile in U.S. foreign policy that H.R.2431 will afford," commented Bruce M. Ramer, AJC National President. "H.R.2431 will strengthen America's commitment to protecting religious freedom around the world by allowing a meaningful, but calibrated, response to abuses and human rights violations associated with religious intolerance. The bill provides the infrastructure and means for America to promote abroad the same freedoms that have shaped our own nation: freedom of religion, respect for every individual, the rule of law and a belief in fairness, equality, and non-discrimination for all persons."

H.R.2431, as passed by the Senate today:

- Creates a meaningful structure for reporting religious persecution worldwide;

- Promotes a flexible approach to sanctions and allows for policy responses that are country- and situation-specific;

- Reconciles Congress' desire to ensure international religious freedom with the President's role and responsibilities in foreign policy;

- Requires a reexamination of U.S. asylum procedures for all victims of human rights abuses; and

- Provides for training of U.S. foreign service officers and immigration officials to increase awareness of religious persecution.

"Few issues have been as central to the work of the American Jewish Committee, which was founded in 1906 in response to pogroms against Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe, as working to protect religious minorities from prejudice, discrimination, bigotry, and violent attack," Mr. Ramer continued.

AJC worked with key Congressional sponsors and the Administration in crafting this balanced bill. Felice D. Gaer, Director of the AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI), testified in support of this initiative before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in June, and a number of her recommendations for change were incorporated into the bill's final version.

The AJC applauds today's action by the Senate and urges the House of Representatives to move quickly to pass the Senate's International Religious Freedom Act, legislation that will help to protect those who have been victims of abuse and human rights violations on account of their religion or belief.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org