Senators Levin, Blunt Introduce Bill to Protect Religious Minorities in Middle East

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Roy Blunt R-Mo., introduced legislation today that would create a new U.S. Department of State special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East aimed at promoting and protecting religious freedoms.
“It is profoundly in the interests of the United States to promote freedom of worship and the rights of religious minorities around the world, and especially in nations where those freedoms are under threat,” said Levin. “Such violence is a threat to regional stability in a part of the world where U.S. interests are great. Moreover, our support for these universal human values affirms the principles upon which our own nation was founded.”
“As we observe political upheavals throughout the Middle East, I expect this bill will encourage the State Department to redouble its efforts to call attention to all religious minorities and demonstrate to leaders in the region that the United States takes religious freedom seriously,” said Blunt. “I’m hopeful that as change takes place in many of these countries, they will look to the United States as a model of religious tolerance and freedom.”
U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., joined by Joe Pitts, R-Penn., Trent Franks, R-Ariz., Rush Holt, D-N.J., and Christopher Smith, R-N.J., introduced a companion bill in the House earlier this year.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Roy Blunt R-Mo., introduced legislation today that would create a new U.S. Department of State special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East aimed at promoting and protecting religious freedoms.

“It is profoundly in the interests of the United States to promote freedom of worship and the rights of religious minorities around the world, and especially in nations where those freedoms are under threat,” said Levin. “Such violence is a threat to regional stability in a part of the world where U.S. interests are great. Moreover, our support for these universal human values affirms the principles upon which our own nation was founded.”

“As we observe political upheavals throughout the Middle East, I expect this bill will encourage the State Department to redouble its efforts to call attention to all religious minorities and demonstrate to leaders in the region that the United States takes religious freedom seriously,” said Blunt. “I’m hopeful that as change takes place in many of these countries, they will look to the United States as a model of religious tolerance and freedom.”

U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., joined by Joe Pitts, R-Penn., Trent Franks, R-Ariz., Rush Holt, D-N.J., and Christopher Smith, R-N.J., introduced a companion bill in the House earlier this year.