FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 20, 2000

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote the President, Secretary of State, and congressional leaders December 18 with recommendations for promoting religious freedom in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). The Commission wrote that "U.S. policy ... should reflect America's concern for religious freedom in a country ruled by one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom."

"In the DPRK ... it is apparent that religious freedom is non-existent," the Commission said. "The government has imprisoned religious believers and apparently suppresses all organized religious activity except that which serves the interest of the state." The Commission noted reports of torture and execution of religious believers, including between 12 and 23 Christians on account of their religion.

The past year has seen significant developments in U.S.-North Korean relations, including Secretary of State Albright's historic visit and the possibility that President Clinton may yet travel there. But U.S. policy has thus far focused primarily on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technology, and on peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Commission urged that the U.S. also place "significant emphasis" on religious freedom in North Korea and recommended that the U.S.:

• Insist that the DPRK publicly reaffirm its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

• Press the DPRK to immediately establish conditions whereby the status of religious freedom can be assessed and progress monitored;

• Ensure that any peace treaty between the parties to the Korean war include provisions on religious freedom and non-discrimination;

• Make it clear that substantial improvement in religious freedom and other human rights in North Korea is a prerequisite for normalization of relations and the relaxation of U.S. sanctions;

• Insist that any U.S. diplomats stationed in North Korea in the future have reasonable access within the country to assess the state of religious freedom and monitor developments, and that a religious-freedom dialogue begin at the highest policymaking levels;

• Raise the issue of religious freedom in all high-level diplomatic exchanges with North Korea;

• Urge the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Japan to press human rights and religious freedom in their talks with North Korea as well.

The full text of the Commission's letter is available on the Commission's Web site, www.uscirf.gov. It can also be obtained by calling (202) 523-3240, ext. 34.

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
Dec. 19, 2000

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom yesterday wrote to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright urging the United States government to denounce forcefully the targeting of holy places of any religion in Israel and the Occupied Territories and to condemn those who call for violence in the name of religion. The text of the letter follows:

Dear Madam Secretary:

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has been observing with great apprehension the increasingly religious nature of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the potential impact of this trend on religious freedom. This is evinced by the growing instances of violence against religious sites (mosques, synagogues, and churches), the use of religious rhetoric to promote violence, the expanding controversy over religious claims to Jerusalem, and the extension of religiously-based confrontations to other areas of the world (primarily in the form of anti-Jewish actions in the Middle East, Europe, and even North America). The ongoing violence in turn has led Israeli authorities to limit access to religious sites because of security concerns. Moreover, religious conflict in the Middle East would escalate inter-religious tensions, and thus pose a threat to religious freedom, everywhere.

We therefore urge the United States government to denounce forcefully the targeting of holy places of any religion and to condemn those who call for violence in the name of religion. We hope that these goals will be emphasized by U.S. diplomats dealing with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In our view, the United States should call for restoration of access to religious sites when legitimate security interests are met, restoration of sites that have been damaged, and prosecution of those who perpetrate desecration of religious sites. We believe that the United States should take the lead in calling upon government and religious leaders everywhere to repudiate all attempts to turn the already grave situation in the Middle East into a conflict among religions.

Thank you for your attention to the Commission's concerns.

Sincerely yours,

Elliott Abrams
Chairman

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
Dec. 7, 2000

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today congratulated Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, a Commission member, on his receipt of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award. President Clinton presented the award December 6.

"We are proud to claim Archbishop McCarrick as one of our own, but humbled by his lifelong service to and concern for religious freedom and human rights," said Commission Chairman Elliott Abrams. "President Clinton rightly saw in him the qualities Mrs. Roosevelt brought to her campaign for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Currently Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, N.J., McCarrick was recently named Archbishop of Washington, D.C. by Pope John Paul II. He will be installed January 4. Archbishop McCarrick was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by Senate minority leader Thomas Daschle (D) of South Dakota. His term expires on May 14, 2000, and he is eligible for reappointment.

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" />