WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider a resolution authored by U.S. Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), a member of the Middle East and Central Asia Subcommittee, calling for religious freedom in Afghanistan. The resolution comes in the wake of the trial of Abdul Rahman, the Afghan man who was on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Congressman Pence led a Congressional delegation to Afghanistan in 2004. The delegation met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, visited a madrassa and met with coalition forces and military officers.
“While I am relieved Abdul Rahman has been freed, religious freedom in Afghanistan is still behind bars,” said Pence. “Americans must send a strong signal to our cherished ally Afghanistan that the American soldier and the American people won freedom for the people of Afghanistan, including the freedom of religion.
“The United States is committed to working with President Karzai and the Afghan people in defense of their hard-earned freedoms. ”
Pence’s resolution states the following:
· Condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the enforcement of laws against apostasy.
· Requests the President to continue to work with the Government of Afghanistan to establish better protections for religious minorities, including converts to minority religions, and to enhance human rights protections in Afghanistan.
· Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, and especially President Hamid Karzai, to continue to conform Afghan laws to Afghanistan’s international human rights treaty obligations, thereby protecting Afghan citizens who have converted or plan to convert to other religions from prosecution.
