Written by Don Byrd
Late last week, the U.S. Senate on a voice vote passed the Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2014. The bill creates a special envoy within the State Department to promote the religious freedom of religious minorities in the region.
Some of the express duties of the envoy include:
(1) Promote the right of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia, denounce the violation of such right, and recommend appropriate responses by the United States Government when such right is violated.
(2) Monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and incitement targeted against religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia.
(3) Work to ensure that the unique needs of religious minority communities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia are addressed, including the economic and security needs of such communities.
(4) Work with foreign governments of the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia to address laws that are discriminatory toward religious minority communities in such countries.
A similar bill passed the House in September of last year on a 402-22 vote.
