119-sres327

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 327 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 327

 Condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries 
 and encouraging the President to prioritize the protection of 
 persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 21, 2025

 Mr. Hawley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries 
 and encouraging the President to prioritize the protection of 
 persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy.

Whereas Open Doors' World Watch List 2025 finds that more than 380,000,000 
 Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and 
 discrimination for their faith, with many of these Christians facing 
 persecution in Muslim-majority countries;
Whereas, in Nigeria--

    (1) thousands of Christians are targeted and killed for their faith 
every year, including--

 G
        (A) at least 50 Christians who were killed in an attack in Plateau 
State on Palm Sunday of 2025; and

 G
        (B) more than 200 Christians who were killed in an attack by 
Fulani jihadists in the farming community of Yelewata, Benue State in June 
2025; and

    (2) the number of Christians killed in Nigeria is vastly more than the 
number of Christians killed in all other countries combined;

Whereas, in the Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, 
 and other countries, there are more acts of terrorism than anywhere else 
 in the world and Christians are often the targets of such terrorism;
Whereas, in Algeria, nearly all evangelical churches have been shut down for 
 years and pastors are regularly arrested and charged for their 
 evangelism;
Whereas, in Libya, the Islamist government regularly harasses the small 
 Christian population and arrests both Libyan and foreign Christians 
 accused of proselytizing;
Whereas, in Egypt--

    (1) the Coptic minority faces difficulty in procuring adequate worship 
spaces;

    (2) Christians are attacked and marginalized in the Upper Minya region;

    (3) Christian girls are regularly kidnapped and forcefully converted 
with impunity; and

    (4) government authorities routinely turn a blind eye to violence 
against Christians;

Whereas, in Sudan, the current civil war has pushed Christians into hiding and 
 displacement;
Whereas, in Somalia, extremists push Christians into hiding because of rampant 
 persecution;
Whereas, in Yemen, Houthis continue to harass, detain, and torture Christians, 
 particularly those who converted from Islam;
Whereas, in Gaza, Christians live as an extreme minority with almost no rights 
 under the Hamas-led government;
Whereas, in Turkey--

    (1) Christians have difficulty procuring adequate worship spaces;

    (2) missionaries are forced out of the country on false charges of 
national security concerns; and

    (3) foreign national clergy face barriers to remaining in country;

Whereas, in Syria, the Christian minority continues to be at risk of 
 disappearing by attacks from militants and terrorists;
Whereas, in Iran, Christians are regularly arrested and forced into Evin Prison, 
 which is one of the worst prisons in the world;
Whereas, in Iraq--

    (1) the dwindling Christian population faces threats from Iranian-
backed Shiite militias and continues to be displaced from Mosul and the 
Nineveh Plains; and

    (2) Christian mayors have been removed in places like Qaraqosh;

Whereas, in Saudi Arabia, Christians are not able to worship in or establish 
 public churches;
Whereas, in Azerbaijan, Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh face ethnic 
 cleansing and cultural destruction;
Whereas, in Turkmenistan, authorities continue to harass Christians, prevent 
 Christians from obtaining registration to operate legally, raid homes 
 and churches, confiscate Bibles, and detain and torture Christians;
Whereas, in Afghanistan, Christians are forced into extreme hiding due to 
 widespread and systemic use of physical and sexual violence, arbitrary 
 detention, torture, corporal punishment, and other egregious abuses;
Whereas, in Tajikistan--

    (1) Christians face severe restrictions on public expression and the 
creation and dissemination of religious materials; and

    (2) converts face physical violence, house arrest, sexual assault, or 
forced marriages;

Whereas, in Pakistan--

    (1) Christians are regularly accused of blasphemy for which they are 
subject to mob violence and the death penalty;

    (2) Christian girls are regularly kidnapped and forced into marriages 
and conversions; and

    (3) Christian cemeteries and churches have been attacked; and

Whereas, in Indonesia, Christians face harassment from local mobs and churches 
 are delayed in getting approvals for the construction and repair of 
 church buildings: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, that the Senate--

    (1) condemns the persecution of Christians in Muslim-
 majority countries;

    (2) encourages the President to prioritize the protection 
 of persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy, 
 including through--
        (A) the President's diplomatic engagement with 
 Muslim-majority countries; and
        (B) efforts to stabilize the Middle East; and

    (3) encourages the President to use all diplomatic tools 
 available, including trade and national security discussions 
 and negotiations, to advance the protection of persecuted 
 Christians worldwide and within Muslim-majority countries.
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