FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, wrote to President Bush January 31 to urge him to raise religious-freedom issues with Pakistani President Musharraf during the latter's upcoming visit to Washington.

The Commission noted the progress Pakistan has made on issues the Commission drew attention to in its May 1, 2001 Annual Report - including abolition of the discriminatory system of separate electorates for religious minorities and President Musharraf's efforts to foster an atmosphere of religious tolerance in Pakistan. "The Commission also views with approval the Administration's decision to assist Pakistan's efforts to improve its education system in order to ensure that religious schools are not breeding grounds for the recruitment and training of future terrorists," wrote Commission Chair Michael K. Young.

At the same time, the Commission updated its recommendations regarding Pakistan, asking President Bush to press the Pakistani leader to change the way the country's blasphemy law is implemented, in order to "limit and eventually eliminate the numerous instances of their wrongful use against members of minority religious communities and Muslims alike," and to tackle persecution of the Ahmadi minority and continued sectarian violence.

The text of the letter follows:

January 31, 2002

Dear Mr. President:

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, pursuant to its advisory responsibilities under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), respectfully urges you to raise religious-freedom concerns with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf during his upcoming visit to Washington.

The Commission has examined carefully religious freedom in Pakistan. In September 2000, the Commission held a public hearing on religious freedom and U.S. policy in Pakistan. In December 2000, Commission staff visited Pakistan and met with government officials, representatives of religious communities, human rights monitors, and U.S. and third-country diplomats.

The Commission found that the government of Pakistan was not doing enough to protect the religious freedom of its citizens and that certain aspects of Pakistani law not only violate international standards of religious freedom but contribute to an atmosphere antagonistic to the full exercise of religious freedom by many of Pakistan's citizens. Our consideration of religious freedom issues in Pakistan resulted in a set of recommendations (attached) included in our May 1, 2001 annual report. Although conditions in Pakistan have not warranted its designation as a "country of particular concern" under IRFA, it remains on the Commission's "watch list."

On January 17 of this year, the Commission publicly welcomed the Musharraf government's action in abolishing the discriminatory system of separate electorates for religious minorities to which we had drawn attention previously because it effectively rendered religious minority members second-class citizens. We have also been encouraged by other actions taken by President Musharraf, both before and after the events of September 11, to foster an atmosphere of religious tolerance in Pakistan and to curb the malevolent influence of violent religious extremists in Pakistani society. The Commission also views with approval the Administration's decision to assist Pakistan's efforts to improve its education system in order to ensure that religious schools are not breeding grounds for the recruitment and training of future terrorists.

In view of these and other important new developments in Pakistan and in U.S.-Pakistan relations, we would like to update and summarize the Commission's recommendations to assist you in preparing for the upcoming meeting.

The Commission respectfully recommends that in your discussions with President Musharraf you commend him for his efforts to:

• Overcome the reality of second-class citizenship among Pakistan's non-Muslim citizens by abolishing the discriminatory system of separate electorates;

• Encourage Islamic religious leaders and scholars to promote religious tolerance in Pakistan;

• Reform Pakistan's education system to improve the quality of secular education and to ensure that religious schools are not used as training grounds for sectarian violence; and

• Disarm militant groups engaging in criminal violence out of misguided religious motivations.

• The Commission further recommends that you urge President Musharraf to:

• Continue and intensify efforts to prevent sectarian and religiously motivated violence and to punish its perpetrators, including those responsible for the massacre of 15 Christians during church services October 28 at Bahawalpur and for the bombing of a church in Islamabad January 15;

• Rescind laws that effectively criminalize the public practice of the Ahmadi faith, in violation of the right to freedom of religion and belief guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and end official discrimination against Ahmadis;

• Implement procedural changes to Pakistan's blasphemy laws in order to limit and eventually eliminate the numerous instances of their wrongful use against members of minority religious communities and Muslims alike (e.g., changes that would require an investigation before arrest can be made and removal of blasphemy offenses from the list of crimes tried by special anti-terrorist courts);

• Exercise his authority to pardon those condemned to death under the blasphemy laws as a result of miscarriages of justice; and

• Establish and support mechanisms of interfaith dialogue encompassing all religious communities in Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President, for considering the Commission's recommendations.

Respectfully,

Michael K. Young

Chair

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." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, yesterday wrote President Bush recommending that he seek to address the Chinese people during his upcoming state visit to China. In the letter, Commission Chair Michael K. Young urged the President to "obtain assurances from the Chinese government that you will be given an opportunity to address the Chinese people directly by live, uncensored broadcast in a major speech on fundamental human rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of religion and belief."

Chairman Young noted President Ronald Reagan's address to students at Moscow State University in 1988. "The Commission urges you to follow this precedent and address the Chinese people directly in similar fashion to express why the U.S. government, on behalf of the American people, is concerned with violations of internationally recognized human rights, including religious freedom, and why it is U.S. policy to oppose such violations anywhere in the world - and not just in China," Young wrote. The text of the letter follows:

January 31, 2002

Dear Mr. President:

Pursuant to its advisory responsibilities under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom respectfully urges that before you undertake your upcoming state visit to the People's Republic of China you obtain assurances from the Chinese government that you will be given an opportunity to address the Chinese people directly by live, uncensored broadcast in a major speech on fundamental human rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of religion and belief. The Commission also recommends that you continue to raise religious-freedom concerns directly with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, as you began during your discussions in Shanghai last October.

In August 2001, the Commission wrote to you in connection with the visit to China that was then being planned for October to urge you to take specific steps - one of which was to address the Chinese people - during the visit that would clearly demonstrate our nation's commitment to genuine religious freedom. A copy of that letter is attached.

The widespread and serious abuses of the right to freedom of religion and belief in China are well documented by the State Department, this Commission, and religious and other nongovernmental organizations. In October 2002, for the third straight year, the Secretary of State has concluded that the Chinese government severely and systematically violates freedom of religion and belief, and named China as a "country of particular concern" under IRFA. The most recent State Department report on China concludes that the Chinese government's "respect for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience worsened" during the period of that report (July 2000 - June 2001). There are numerous serious violations against members of many of China's religious and spiritual communities.

An important aspect of promoting religious freedom in China, along with other human rights, is for representatives of the United States to inform the Chinese people why the U.S. government is concerned about human rights practices in their country. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan gave an address to Russian students at Moscow State University during his state visit to the former Soviet Union in which he described in detail the commitment of Americans to democracy, economic freedom, freedom of assembly, speech, and the press, and freedom of religion. The address was well received among Russians. The Commission urges you to follow this precedent and address the Chinese people directly in similar fashion to express why the U.S. government, on behalf of the American people, is concerned with violations of internationally recognized human rights, including religious freedom, and why it is U.S. policy to oppose such violations anywhere in the world - and not just in China.*

Thank you, Mr. President, for considering the Commission's recommendations. The Commission plans to present you with the rest of its policy recommendations on China in the near future.

Respectfully,

Michael K. Young

Chair

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." 

Michael K. Young, Chair

• Felice D. Gaer, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Richard D. Land, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Leila Nadya Sadat, Nina SheaThe Hon. Charles R. Stith, The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - On January 28 the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, wrote to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell recommending the United States seek to regain its seat on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

"The Commission believes that it is extremely important that the United States serve as an active member of the Commission," wrote Chairman Michael K. Young. "The U.S. stands virtually alone in striving to focus world attention on actual violations of human rights...." The text of the letter follows:

January 28, 2002

Dear Secretary Powell:

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom understands that the U.S. Government will shortly be deciding whether to seek this year to regain its seat on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

The Commission believes that it is extremely important that the United States serve as an active member of the Commission. The U.S. stands virtually alone in striving to focus world attention on actual violations of human rights, including the victims and the specific perpetrating governments.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for considering the Commission's recommendation in this important matter.

Respectfully yours,

Michael K. Young

Chair

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." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />