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.
“STATE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7221 on Sept. 6, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
(Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, the State Department's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom was released yesterday.
Among the countries that continue to stand out because of their horrible record on religious freedom are China and Sudan.
The report says of China: ``Government respect for religious freedom in China deteriorated, as the persecution of several religious minorities increased.''
Such groups as Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and unofficial Protestants and Roman Catholics were subject to harassment, extortion, prolonged detention, physical abuse, and incarceration in prison or reeducation camps through labor, while the State Department says that there are credible reports that the Chinese Government beat and tortured these people of faith.
Also, in Sudan, it says the Muslim-dominated regime continued to persecute members of different religious minorities, Christian and Muslim.
The report says that much of the world's population lives in countries in which the right to religious freedom is restricted or prohibited.
The Congress, the Clinton administration, and the next administration must do more to stand up for those who are persecuted or suffer because of their religious faith.
____________________
