first time, the nations of the world agreed to make a declaration against all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. These persecutions will not stop because the U.N. has adopted a document. It is not a perfect instrument, but there is now a clear standard to be applied when public or private appeals are made to governments. The declaration provides that everyone should have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, or whatever the belief of his or her choice, and should not be subject to coercion that would impair individual freedom. It further provides that no person shall be subject to intolerance or discrimination by any state, institution, group or individual on religious grounds. One thing is certain: Religious persecution never will be checked unless someone takes the time to monitor and expose what is going on and governments are held accountable. It is unlikely that the United States can end religious persecution, but we can make the issue an integral part of our foreign policy. If America is to remain faithful to her past and the values inherent in those documents that formed this great democracy, then we must stand for religious freedom and human rights in the many countries that still abuse their citizens. Religious freedom is synonymous with the protection and promotion of human rights. As governments deny their citizens basic fundamental freedoms and human rights, organized religion is often the last hope. Inevitably when it speaks out against injustice, organized religion becomes the victim of state repression. The importance of religious freedom as a human right is seen clearly when parliaments are closed, political parties disbanded, trade unions outlawed, or the courts rendered useless. Churches, synagogues, mosques and pagodas often provide the last remaining place of refuge for people to stand together for justice. I would urge all to read this volume which clearly indicates the issue of religious persecution. It demands our attention and that of all the members of the international community. We must speak out because of the needs of the victims. We must speak out because of our feeling of compassion, and we must speak out because it is our duty to send an unmistakable signal to the principal offenders that they will be checked and stopped. The Bible speaks plainly about this subject. Jesus said of the victims of persecution, "Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... DON BONKER. CONTENTS February 10, 1982 (subcommittee markup on H. Con. Res. 100 and H. Res. Hon. Barney Frank, a Representative in Congress from the State of Judge James Nelson, chairman, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and presiding judge of the municipal court July 27, 1982 (subcommittee markup on S. Con. Res. 18)—Continued Rev. Roger Arnold, executive director, Christian Solidarity International.. Olga and Rev. Blahoslav Hruby, editors of Religion in Communist Domi- nated Areas, and directors of Research Center for Religion and Human Rights in Closed Societies, Ltd..... JEWS IN THE SOVIET UNION AND EASTERN EUROPE July 29, 1982 (subcommittee markup on H. Con. Res. 378): Theodore Mann, chairman, National Conference on Soviet Jewry; Jerry Goodman, executive director, National Council on Soviet Jewry Paul Meek, Washington Director, Union Council of Soviet Jews....... William Korey, director of International Policy, B'nai B'rith........................... Alexsandr Goldfarb, refusenik... COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT AND FALASHA JEWS IN ETHIOPIA Hon. Barney Frank, a Representative in Congress from the State of Rev. Arie Brouwer, general secretary of the Reformed Church in Amer- ica, on behalf of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the December 1, 1982 (subcommittee markup on H. Con. Res. 428): Gary Price, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Depart- Tom Johnson, U.S. Mission to the U.N., U.N. Economic and Social Coun- 824 Article by Chairman Don Bonker entitled "Religious Persecution Wide- spread," Scripps Howard Wire Service, published in the Seattle Times, MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD Letter dated November 1, 1981 to the Society of Americans for Vashchenko Statement by the Society of Americans for Vashchenko Emigration, Jane Letter dated January 6, 1982 to Leonid Brezhnev, President, and Andrei Statement by David A. Harris, director, Washington office, National Confer- Article entitled "In Many Places It's Still Dangerous to Believe," published in Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimi- nation Based on Religion or Belief as adopted by the Third Committee of the General Assembly November 9, 1981.. Letter dated January 15, 1982 to Most Rev. Thomas C. Kelly, U.S. Catholic Text of H. Con. Res. 249, condemning religious persecution and bigotry as an Statement by Hon. Edward Derwinski, a Representative from the State of Illinois, regarding H. Con. Res. 249 and the persecution of the Baha'is in Letter dated February 15, 1979 to Hon. Edward Derwinski from Glenford Mitchell, secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Letter dated June 26, 1981 to Kurt Waldheim, Secretary General of the Letter dated June 16, 1981 to Hon. Edward Derwinski from Glenford Mitchell Telegram dated June 15, 1981 to U.N. Secretary Kurt Waldheim from Glen- ford Mitchell regarding the execution of seven Baha'is. Congressional Record insert from July 24, 1981, by Hon. Edward Derwinski entitled "Ramsey Clark, Where Are You When We Need You". Article by Firuz Kazemzadeh entitled "For Baha'is in Iran, a Threat of Extinction," printed in the New York Times, August 6, 1981, and reprinted in the Congressional Record September 15, 1981, submitted by Hon. Edward |