SRES 327

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 21, 2025

Mr. Hawley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries and encouraging the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy.

Whereas Open Doors’ World Watch List 2025 finds that more than 380,000,000 Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, with many of these Christians facing persecution in Muslim-majority countries; Whereas, in Nigeria—

(1) thousands of Christians are targeted and killed for their faith every year, including—

G (A) at least 50 Christians who were killed in an attack in Plateau State on Palm Sunday of 2025; and

G (B) more than 200 Christians who were killed in an attack by Fulani jihadists in the farming community of Yelewata, Benue State in June 2025; and

(2) the number of Christians killed in Nigeria is vastly more than the number of Christians killed in all other countries combined;

Whereas, in the Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, and other countries, there are more acts of terrorism than anywhere else in the world and Christians are often the targets of such terrorism; Whereas, in Algeria, nearly all evangelical churches have been shut down for years and pastors are regularly arrested and charged for their evangelism; Whereas, in Libya, the Islamist government regularly harasses the small Christian population and arrests both Libyan and foreign Christians accused of proselytizing; Whereas, in Egypt—

(1) the Coptic minority faces difficulty in procuring adequate worship spaces;

(2) Christians are attacked and marginalized in the Upper Minya region;

(3) Christian girls are regularly kidnapped and forcefully converted with impunity; and

(4) government authorities routinely turn a blind eye to violence against Christians;

Whereas, in Sudan, the current civil war has pushed Christians into hiding and displacement; Whereas, in Somalia, extremists push Christians into hiding because of rampant persecution; Whereas, in Yemen, Houthis continue to harass, detain, and torture Christians, particularly those who converted from Islam; Whereas, in Gaza, Christians live as an extreme minority with almost no rights under the Hamas-led government; Whereas, in Turkey—

(1) Christians have difficulty procuring adequate worship spaces;

(2) missionaries are forced out of the country on false charges of national security concerns; and

(3) foreign national clergy face barriers to remaining in country;

Whereas, in Syria, the Christian minority continues to be at risk of disappearing by attacks from militants and terrorists; Whereas, in Iran, Christians are regularly arrested and forced into Evin Prison, which is one of the worst prisons in the world; Whereas, in Iraq—

(1) the dwindling Christian population faces threats from Iranian- backed Shiite militias and continues to be displaced from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains; and

(2) Christian mayors have been removed in places like Qaraqosh;

Whereas, in Saudi Arabia, Christians are not able to worship in or establish public churches; Whereas, in Azerbaijan, Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh face ethnic cleansing and cultural destruction; Whereas, in Turkmenistan, authorities continue to harass Christians, prevent Christians from obtaining registration to operate legally, raid homes and churches, confiscate Bibles, and detain and torture Christians; Whereas, in Afghanistan, Christians are forced into extreme hiding due to widespread and systemic use of physical and sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture, corporal punishment, and other egregious abuses; Whereas, in Tajikistan—

(1) Christians face severe restrictions on public expression and the creation and dissemination of religious materials; and

(2) converts face physical violence, house arrest, sexual assault, or forced marriages;

Whereas, in Pakistan—

(1) Christians are regularly accused of blasphemy for which they are subject to mob violence and the death penalty;

(2) Christian girls are regularly kidnapped and forced into marriages and conversions; and

(3) Christian cemeteries and churches have been attacked; and

Whereas, in Indonesia, Christians face harassment from local mobs and churches are delayed in getting approvals for the construction and repair of church buildings: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Senate—

(1) condemns the persecution of Christians in Muslim- majority countries;

(2) encourages the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy, including through—

(A) the President’s diplomatic engagement with Muslim-majority countries; and

(B) efforts to stabilize the Middle East; and

(3) encourages the President to use all diplomatic tools available, including trade and national security discussions and negotiations, to advance the protection of persecuted Christians worldwide and within Muslim-majority countries. <all>