A press release from Congressman Randy Hultgren:
House Renews Religious Freedom Watchdog as Sudanese Woman Remains in Legal Limbo
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported passage of H. R. 4653, a bill which reauthorizes the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan federal commission dedicated to defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
“As someone with deeply-held religious convictions, I believe that everyone has the fundamental right to profess their faith and practice their religion wherever in the world they may live.
“As Miriam Ibrahim remains safe but in legal limbo at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan, it is imperative we maintain vigilance in protecting religious freedom abroad,” said Rep. Hultgren.
“By nature, every human being is given certain rights, including the fundamental right of belief, which no government can justly attack.
“It is in the common interest of humankind to defend those persecuted for expressing their beliefs and practicing their religion.
“I thank Dr. Robert P. George for his service as Chair of USCIRF, and I look forward to Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett’s leadership as the new head of a key check on persecution abroad.”
Miriam Yehya Ibrahim was sentenced to death by the Sudanese government for refusing to abandon Christianity.
The Sudanese law requires children to follow their father’s faith.
Ibrahim’s father is a Muslim, and she herself was raised by her Orthodox Christian mother.
The case provoked worldwide outcry, and was only amplified by Miriam Yehya Ibrahim’s pregnancy at the time of the death sentence.
In response, Rep. Hultgren co-sponsored H.Res. 601, a resolution condemning her death sentence.
Miriam must be brought to the U.S..
If she remains in her Country she will most likely be killed by her family.
Very sad situation.
In many parts of the world, church or religion is still entrenched in government and politics….
Religious freedom, is one of our many important and rights as Americans.
She should be allowed to come to the US.
I’m curious how you all would feel if she were Muslim, and being persecuted by Christians
Christians don’t say if you’re not a Christian I’m going to kill you.
Christians say I’ll tell you what I believe and then you can either believe it or not.
Voter, think again.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121101527.html
Persecution of gays is intensifying across Africa, fueled by fundamentalist preachers, intolerant governments and homophobic politicians.
Gay people have been denied access to health care, detained, tortured and even killed, human rights activists and witnesses say.
THIS STORY
Gays in Africa face growing persecution, human rights activists say
Persecution of gays intensifies across Africa: One woman’s story
The growing tide of homophobia comes at a time when gays in Africa are expressing themselves more openly, prompting greater media attention and debates about homosexuality.
The rapid growth of Islam and evangelical forms of Christianity, both espousing conservative views on family values and marriage, have persuaded many Africans that homosexuality should not be tolerated in their societies.
In recent years, conservative American evangelical churches have had a profound influence on society in Uganda and other African nations.
They send missions and help fund local churches that share their brand of Christianity.
Sermons and seminars by American evangelist preachers are staples on local television and radio networks across the continent.
Some activists say the attacks in Uganda intensified last year after three American evangelical preachers visited the country.
In seminars attended by thousands and broadcasted over radio, the preachers discussed how to “cure” homosexuality and accused gays of sodomizing boys and destroying African culture.
A month later, a Ugandan lawmaker introduced the anti-homosexuality bill.
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“The religious fundamentalists want to rule everyone. They want everyone to follow their religious agenda,” said Pepe Julien Onziema, a gay rights activist here.
Uganda’s penal code criminalizes homosexuality as “acts against the laws of human nature.”
But under the draft bill, even parents and teachers who fail to report an offender would face three years in jail; those who “promote” homosexuality would face a five- to seven-year jail sentence.
jack…….thank you for the article to read.
After reading the article I strongly believe that these are not Christian people.
If the people there were to contact another evangelical Christian organization I am sure the people would be treated differently.
This article is one sided and I wish that there was another article that reported what the Christian organization had to say about their teaching.