FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2002

Contact:
Eileen A. Sullivan, Deputy Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 26

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, welcomes the news from U.S. officials that China will invite the Commission to visit the country.

"Since its inception, the Commission has made several formal requests for an official invitation to visit China. The Commission is pleased to hear that Chinese officials have agreed to invite us without conditions, and we look forward to visiting the country as soon as possible to examine religious freedom conditions and discuss the Commission's recommendations to improve those conditions," said Commission Chair, Felice D. Gaer.

U.S. officials are currently in China engaging in a bilateral dialogue with senior Chinese officials on human rights, including religious freedom. The Commission received confirmation of the news about the invitation to visit China from the State Department.

"The Commission's trip to China will be a crucial step in expanding from this dialogue to action addressing respect for religious freedom," said Gaer.

The Commission's requests to other countries for visits to examine religious freedom conditions have been met positively. With this invitation from China, India is now the only country that has refused a request for an invitation to the Commission to visit.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2002

Contact:
Eileen A. Sullivan, Deputy Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 26

"While the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is pleased with the passage of The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act, it continues its call for President Bush or Secretary Powell to appoint a high-level official to advance human rights protections in Afghanistan, while it is still possible to influence the development of the country's new political and legal institutions," said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer.

However, the Commission, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, today welcomed the enactment of legislation to advance human rights, including religious freedom, in Afghanistan as part of America's multibillion-dollar assistance program for the rebuilding of that war-torn country.

"Enacting The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 signals the importance of protecting human rights, including religious freedom, so that Afghanistan does not once again become a haven for tyrants or terrorists," stated Ms. Gaer. "We hope that full use will be made of the Act's tools to protect human rights in Afghanistan."

The Commission has expressed alarm over mounting evidence that Afghanistan is being reconstructed - without significant U.S. opposition - as a state with oppressive crimes and punishments derived from an extreme interpretation of Islamic law, as well as religious law enforcement apparatus and police. These are among the developments that justify an urgent focus by the United States on human rights issues.

The Commission expressed satisfaction that several of its recommendations to advance human rights, and particularly religious freedom, as part of U.S. reconstruction aid for Afghanistan had been incorporated into the Act. Under the Act:

• Assistance to Afghanistan should "foster the growth of a pluralistic society that promotes and respects religious freedom" and help achieve a representative government that respects the human rights of all Afghans.

• The President is urged to work in the United Nations Security Council and with U.S. allies to expand the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) throughout the entire country, a key recommendation of the Commission in its June 2002 report on Afghanistan. The operation of ISAF currently is restricted to the capital of Kabul and surrounding areas.

• Funding is authorized to support drafting a constitution and other legal reforms that protect religious freedom and to support civil society organizations that promote human rights.

• Aid is also authorized for the Afghan National Human Rights Commission, human rights training for the military, police, and legal personnel, and the dissemination of information throughout Afghanistan on human rights, including religious freedom and the rights of women.

• A total of $80 million is provided to assist women and girls in the areas of human rights, education, health care, and other programs.

• There is support for efforts to investigate human rights atrocities, whether by the Taliban, by warlords, or by terrorists, such as al-Qaeda.

• Reconstruction assistance is conditioned on progress on human rights issues. The President must certify each year "that progress is being made toward adopting a constitution and establishing a democratically elected government for Afghanistan that respects human rights." Although the President may waive this restriction, he must explain to the Congress why it is in the U.S. national interest to do so.

For more information about promoting respect for human rights, including religious freedom, in Afghanistan, please see the Commission's:

June 2002 Report on Afghanistan

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."

Felice D. Gaer,Chair

• Dean Michael K. Young, Vice Chair, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Richard D. Land, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Leila Nadya Sadat, Nina Shea, The Hon. Charles R. Stith, The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2002

Contact:
Eileen A. Sullivan, Deputy Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 26

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, today announced the appointment of Joseph R. Crapa as its new Executive Director. Mr. Crapa brings to the position a wealth of experience in the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill. He has worked for more than 25 years in the Congress and the Administration, holding high level policy and administrative positions.

"The Commission is delighted to welcome Joe Crapa. He has extensive and highly regarded administrative and bipartisan public policymaking experience on Capitol Hill. His significant service in the Executive Branch, his impressive managerial experience, and his strong interest in promoting religious freedom around the world should make him an outstanding Executive Director," said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer.

Prior to coming to the Commission, Mr. Crapa served as Chief of Staff for Senator Charles E. Schumer, the senior Senator from New York. Before that, Mr. Crapa spent four years as an official in the Executive Branch from 1997-2001, where he was nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate to serve as an Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also held senior positions at the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency where his portfolio included Congressional Relations and Public Affairs.

"It is a great tribute to the Congress," according to Mr. Crapa, "that it has had the vision to create and continue to strongly support the Commission. My role will be to assist the Commissioners in their critical task of promoting international religious freedom as an important part of our foreign policy considerations. I look forward to working with the Commission in a bipartisan manner to advocate religious tolerance and positive changes for those who suffer oppression because of their faith. I believe it is one of the finest things we as Americans can do and I'm proud to join the Commissioners in this effort."

Mr. Crapa has extensive experience dealing with foreign and domestic policy issues. For ten years he served as Chief of Staff for Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and also as Democratic counsel to the House Appropriations Committee.

"The Commission also extends its highest regard and appreciation to Tad Stahnke, who served as Acting Executive Director while our search was in progress. He is a highly valued resource whose outstanding talents and many contributions are a key and decisive factor to the ongoing success of the Commission," Gaer said.

Crapa graduated from Cathedral College Preparatory Seminary, received a B.A. from St. John's University, went on to earn his M.A. from Duke University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona where he was a National Defense Teaching Fellow.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.