The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN'S ANNOUNCED INTENTION TO CONFISCATE THE PROPERTY OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF KHARTOUM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2106 on Oct. 14, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN'S ANNOUNCED INTENTION TO CONFISCATE THE
PROPERTY OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF KHARTOUM
______
HON. TONY P. HALL
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 14, 1999
Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, religious freedom and the lives of many faithful Christians are in grave danger in Sudan. The latest threat arise from the Sudanese government's planned seizure on October 16 of the headquarters of the Episcopal Church in Omdurman, part of greater Khartoum. These buildings, home to the Episcopal Church of Sudan since 1925, are occupied by clergy and lay people who will not leave until the matter is resolved. Christians in Sudan and their friends elsewhere have been called to several days of fasting and prayer, beginning October 15.
These buildings are being seized on a pretext, just as the government, which also refuses to grant permission to build any new churches in Khartoum, has illegally seized many other pieces of church property. Local Christians had taken to the streets to protest the planned seizure last month, and the government announced that it would give title to the property to the church. The government has since reversed itself and announced plans to go forward with the seizure. I fear the seizure will trigger violence or bloodshed. Unarmed clergy and lay persons holding vigil within the compound could be in harm's way.
The action by the government in Khartoum makes a mockery of its claims to respect religious freedom and human rights, and demonstrates, yet again, its intentions to continue to persecute Christians and Muslims who do not agree with the regime's particular brand of Islam.
The United States government has been active in opposing this kind of human rights abuse in Sudan, and I ask our State Department to continue to shine a spotlight on this kind of human rights violation. In addition, I call upon our allies and friends in the world community to intervene with the government of Sudan to stop these human rights abuses.
In particular, I challenge the governments of Canada and France, whose companies are helping to develop Sudan's oil reserves, to speak up boldly in defense of religious freedom and against these unjustified actions by the government of Sudan. Concrete actions by these governments to denounce these human rights violations may make the difference between freedom and oppression for these people, and possibly between life and death. The United States and the entire international community must not stand by in the face of persecution.
____________________
