America
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, lawmakers introduce resolution to protect religious minorities in Bangladesh
Washington, DC—Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D, HI-02) a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific, introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the government of
Bangladesh to increase human rights protections, strengthen democratic
institutions, and prevent the growth of extremist groups in the country. The
resolution comes as ISIS and other trans-national radical Islamic groups
continue to grow their influence in areas like South Asia. Co-sponsors
include Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee
Chairman Matt Salmon (R, AZ-05) and Rep. Bob Dold (R, IL-10).
In a speech on the House floor introducing the resolution,
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard stated, “Bangladesh is a country in
turmoil. There are many concerns about the stability of the country,
particularly since flawed elections were held last year, and the political
violence that has ensued. I am particularly concerned over issues of
religious freedom, and specifically, attacks against minority Hindus,
Christians, Buddhists, and others, in Bangladesh. All too often
perpetrators of crimes against minorities go unpunished. It’s up to the
government of Bangladesh
to take action to stop those who incite and commit violence and protect the
rights of these minorities. [This resolution] calls on the government of
Bangladesh to protect the human rights of all its citizens, particularly its
vulnerable minorities, strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and
prevent the growth of extremist groups.â€
“It was an honor to work on this resolution with Rep.
Gabbard,†said Congressman Matt Salmon. “In Bangladesh, there is great
potential. Through this resolution, we have encouraged Bangladesh to
embrace non-violent democratic competition and rule of law, and to shirk
political violence and religious extremism. We expect Bangladesh to
respect human dignity, honor commitments to freedom of expression and religion,
and protect the human rights of all citizens, no matter one’s political
disposition, creed, or religion. This resolution reaffirms our dedication to
these principles.â€
“Religious persecution is on the rise around the world, with
77% of the world’s population now living in countries with high restrictions on
religious freedom,†said Congressman Bob Dold. "As the greatest
force for human dignity in the world, the United States has an obligation to
send the unequivocal message that we will not tolerate countries that fail
to protect the fundamental freedoms of all citizens, especially
minorities. I am pleased to join with my colleagues from both sides of the
aisle calling on the government of Bangladesh to protect the rights of
minorities, eliminate violent extremist groups and restore the rule of law.â€
Background
Bangladesh,
a Muslim-majority nation in South Asia, is the
world's eighth most populous country in the world. The country’s faltering
democratic system has been subjected to an array of pressures in recent
years, including a combination of political violence, corruption, poverty, and
increasingly, Islamist militancy. Religious minorities, including Hindus,
Buddhists, Jews, and Ahmadiyya Muslims, in Bangladesh face high levels of
persecution, including the destruction of temples, homes and businesses.