IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 160 
Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and human rights 
by theocratic groups operating in South Asia. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 28, 2019 
Mr. BANKS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy 
and human rights by theocratic groups operating in 
South Asia. 
Whereas Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 and es-
tablished a secular democratic state, which is home to 
over 163 million Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, 
and atheists; 
Whereas this freedom was won at the cost of approximately 
3,000,000 deaths, more than 10,000,000 displaced, and 
200,000 women raped, many at the hands of Islamist 
militants led by Jamaat-e-Islami; 
Whereas Bangladesh plays a critical role in the safe and vol-
untary repatriation of over 800,000 Rohingya Muslims 
who have taken refuge in Bangladesh from religious and 
political persecution in Myanmar; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:35 Feb 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR160.IH
HR160
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 160 IH 
Whereas religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, 
Christians, and Ahamadi Muslims, have been attacked by 
Jamaat-e-Islami, and their subsidiary Islami Chhatra 
Shibir, as a result of which hundreds of homes have been 
damaged, shops damaged or looted, and temples vandal-
ized; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami applauded the assassination of 
Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer for defending the 
rights of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blas-
phemy in Pakistan; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami led funeral prayers for the terrorist 
who assassinated Salmaan Taseer, during which they 
prayed for the strength and power to enforce Shariah 
throughout the world; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami has refused to accept the acquittal 
of Asia Bibi on blasphemy charges and worked to prevent 
her from leaving Pakistan where she faces mortal danger; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami members have been linked with al- 
Qaida and the Taliban; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami and affiliated theocratic extremist 
groups pose an immediate and ongoing threat to stability 
and secular democracy in South Asia, leaving religious 
minorities at grave risk of continuing violence; 
Whereas the European Parliament adopted a resolution urg-
ing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to unequivocally 
distance itself from Jamaat-e-Islami; 
Whereas respected Bangladeshi jurist and political opposition 
leader Kamal Hossain has publicly called for the Ban-
gladesh Nationalist Party to sever its ties with Jamaat- 
e-Islami; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:35 Feb 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR160.IH
HR160
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 160 IH 
Whereas various organizations in the United States that re-
ceive Federal funds, such as the Islamic Circle of North 
America, share leadership and are openly affiliated with 
Jamaat-e-Islami; 
Whereas Helping Hand for Relief and Development, a reg-
istered charitable organization in the United States, 
openly partnered in 2017 with Pakistan’s Falah-e- 
Insaniat Foundation, which the United States Govern-
ment designated as a terrorist organization in 2016; 
Whereas repeated attacks on religious minorities, expanding 
religious extremism, and growing destabilization caused 
by radical groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and its af-
filiates, undermine United States economic and strategic 
interests in Bangladesh; and 
Whereas there is a growing trend of Islamic extremism in 
South Asia tied to pro-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria 
activity, with several arrests of Islamists linked with the 
terrorist group made in recent years: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses its sense that the United States 
should more actively engage with the Government of 
Bangladesh regarding shared interests in safe-
guarding human rights, religious freedom, and sec-
ular democracy in Bangladesh, while preventing the 
growth of religious extremism and militancy; 
(2) calls on the Governments of Bangladesh 
and Pakistan to deny, disrupt, and dismantle the 
ability of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates to con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:35 Feb 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR160.IH
HR160
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
•HRES 160 IH 
tinue posing an immediate and ongoing threat to re-
ligious freedom and regional stability; 
(3) urges the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and 
all political parties to unequivocally distance them-
selves from Jamaat-e-Islami and other extremist or-
ganizations; 
(4) calls on the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, the Department of State, the 
Department of Homeland Security, and other rel-
evant agencies, to halt all partnerships and funding 
arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat-e- 
Islami and its domestic affiliates, including the Is-
lamic Circle of North America, ICNA Relief, Help-
ing Hand for Relief and Development, and the Mus-
lim Ummah of North America; and 
(5) calls on law enforcement to investigate the 
activities of Helping Hand for Relief and Develop-
ment in Pakistan and Kashmir, including reported 
collaboration with components of the Pakistani ter-
rorist network, Lashkar-e-Taiba. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:35 Feb 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR160.IH
HR160
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS