Becket Fund Int'l Dir. Testifies to Congressional Human Rights CaucusJul 20, 2007 On Tuesday, July 17, Becket Fund International Director Angela C. Wu testified before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Task Force for International Religious Freedom and the India Caucus at a staff briefing titled, “Religious Freedom Conditions in South Asia: The Treatment of Religious Minorities.” The briefing was called to educate the Caucus on the state of human rights and religious freedom in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and the implications these conditions have on U.S. foreign policy. "Religious minorities in South Asia, including Christians in India, Ahmadiya Muslims in Pakistan, and Hindus in Bangladesh, face persecution for complex legal, cultural, and historical reasons that vary from country to country," Said Ms. Wu. "Anti-conversion and anti-blasphemy laws in these countries are some of the most pressing religious freedom problems in the world today. We were pleased to have the opportunity to inform the members of the Caucus about these human rights violations." Ms. Wu also delivered practical recommendations that included mandated religious freedom education for Foreign Service Officers and funding for religious freedom education of other State Department officials. Ms. Wu sat on a panel with representatives from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Hindu American Foundation, the human rights e-newsletter Hotline Bangladesh, and the Ahmadiyya Movement. To read the full text of Angela’s testimony, click here. Resources & Documents
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