[Pages S4507-S4508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                              S. Res. 327

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