Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 944-"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq." As a cosponsor of this resolution. I join my colleagues in expressing my concern about the plight of vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities of Iraq. and we are particularly concerned for the Chaldeans. Syriacs. Assyrians. and other Christians. Sabean Mandeans. Yazidis. Bahais. Jews. and Muslim ethnic minorities. the Shabak and Turkomen. and other religious and ethnic minorities of Iraq. Political and religious freedom in Iraq is a vital concern with regards to the nation and region. When we envision the longterm peace and security of Iraq. we envision a country with a strong. functioning democracy that respects the rights of all citizens. That vision is not a product of the imperialism of Western ideas. the tradition of religious plurality has roots in the history and religious beliefs of the Iraqi people. But. although Iraq has a strong history of multiculturalism. it must not rest on this reputation. The rights of minorities in Iraq are not fully protected. and the Iraqi government can and must do more to protect the rights of its minorities. The degree to which Iraq protects those rights is a reflection on our country. Because of the United States unfortunate detour from our struggle against terrorism into Iraq. the actions of the new government of Iraq directly reflect upon us. So far. I believe that the actions of the government of Iraq with respect to political and religious freedoms are problematic. In no case is the Iraqi governments treatment of minorities more troubling than their treatment of the residents of Camp Ashraf. Although Camp Ashraf is halfway around the world. the conditions there affect Americans. including in my own district and throughout the state of Texas where some of my constituents have family members in Camp Ashraf. For example. my constituent. Mitra Sohrabi. has a brother who is currently detained in Camp Ashraf. and worries about his health on a daily basis. I also know many people in Houston and throughout the state of Texas who were affected directly by the July 2009 raid on Camp Ashraf. Late last year. three months after U.S. forces turned over control of Camp Ashraf. Iraqi Security Forces violated the human rights of the Peoples Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI). Camp Ashraf detains over 3.400 exiled Iranian political dissidents. who are members of the PMOI. including over 1.000 women. The PMOI opposes the current Iranian regime. and for their political beliefs they have been exiled from Iran and sequestered in Camp Ashraf. Several women detained at Camp Ashraf have reported acts of intimidation and threats of physical and sexual violence by members of the Iraqi security forces. On July 28. 2009. Iraqi Security Forces conducted a raid on the detainees at Camp Ashraf. The raid occurred fewer than three months after the U.S. passed control of Camp Ashraf to the government of Iraq. The raid began on Tuesday. July 28th when Iraqi armored vehicles began attacks against the Iranian prisoners. The attacks continued for two full days and resulted in the death of 11 exiles and the injury of over 400 more. As a result of the raid on Camp Ashraf. 36 men were arrested under allegations of violent behavior. The 36 arrested Camp Ashraf residents have since been freed. but the United States has a continuing interest in ensuring that the events of July 28th never occur again. Although most of the residents of Camp Ashraf were not religious minorities. the Iraqi governments treatment of the camps residents sets a dangerous example. In recent years. there have been alarming numbers of religiously motivated killings. abductions. beatings. rapes. threats. intimidation. forced conversions. marriages. and displacement from homes and businesses. and attacks on religious leaders. pilgrims. and holy sites. in Iraq. with the smallest religious minorities in Iraq having been among the most vulnerable. although Iraqis from many religious communities. Muslim and nonMuslim alike. have suffered in this violence. In summary. members of small religious minority communities in Iraq do not have militia or tribal structures to defend them. do not receive adequate official protection. and are legally. politically. and economically marginalized. This resolution will remind the Iraqi government that minorities of any typebe it race. religion. political affiliation. or difference of thoughtare integral components of a robust civil society and a true democracy. I have faith that Iraq can and will achieve such a democracy. but we must remember that building democracy requires more than a constitutionit requires a commitment to democratic principles.