FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2000

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today elected Commissioner Elliott Abrams to serve as Chairman during its second year of operation. Commissioner Firuz Kazemzadeh was elected as Vice Chairman.

The two will serve until May 14, 2001, when the terms of the current Commissioners expire. They replace Rabbi David Saperstein and Michael Young, who served as Chairman and Vice Chairman during the Commission's inaugural year. A yearly election is required by law; Commissioners decided in June 1999 that they would rotate officers each year.

Mr. Abrams is currently President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. After serving on the staff of Sens. Henry M. Jackson and Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the 1970s, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, and Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs during the Reagan Administration. He was a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute from 1990 to 1996, when he moved to the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Abrams holds a B.A. from Harvard College, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a Master's degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Kazemzadeh, of Alta Loma, California, recently retired as Secretary for External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. He is Professor Emeritus of History at Yale University, having taught Russian history there from 1956 until his retirement in 1992. During his tenure at Yale, Kazemzadeh also served variously as Director of Graduate Studies in Russian and Eastern European Studies; Chair of the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies; Director of Graduate Studies in History; and Master of Davenport College. He is the author of several books relating to Russia and Central Asia.

"Rabbi Saperstein and Dean Young provided extraordinary leadership in steering the Commission through its first year, during which it organized itself, hired staff, moved into offices, held important public hearings on Sudan and China, and issued its first Annual Report," Abrams said. "Every one of us on the Commission, and indeed the cause of international religious freedom, is indebted to them both. Fortunately they will remain active members of the Commission during the coming year."

"The Commission has had a real impact on U.S. policy toward Sudan this past year," Abrams added, "and the strong position the Commission took on PNTR for China also demonstrates that we can play a real role in the debate over American foreign policy. We will be looking at a larger number of countries in the coming year, seeking to have an even broader impact. I look forward to this challenge with enthusiasm, and am lucky to have Professor Kazemzadeh as a partner in this work."

The Commission, which first met in June 1999, was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. It consists of nine appointed Commissioners and one non-voting Commissioner, who is the Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department. Three Commissioners are appointed by the President, three by the House of Representatives, and three by the Senate.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2000

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240

The Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today expressed regret over the House vote to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status without requiring China to show "substantial improvement" on religious freedom. Such a standard was a major recommendation of the Commission's first Annual Report, issued May 1.

"I am disappointed that the House decided to forgo the opportunity that the PNTR vote afforded to require that China show improvement in religious freedom," Rabbi David Saperstein said. "That's especially needed given the serious deterioration in religious freedom in China over the past year." The House vote was the crucial one, he noted, since most political observers believe the measure will easily pass the Senate.

"There is a risk that the PNTR vote will be misinterpreted in China as a sign of American indifference to violations of religious freedom there," Chairman Saperstein said. "House approval of PNTR therefore makes it even more critical that Congress act to express its support for religious freedom in that country. We hope that Congress will now address some of the recommendations made in our report." He noted that the passage of the Levin-Bereuter amendment creating a commission to study China's human rights performance and report annually is a step in the right direction. Among other actions the U.S. should now take:

-- Undertake a multilateral campaign to seek the release of arrested or detained Chinese religious leaders;

-- Increase its efforts, from the President on down, to pass a censure resolution against China in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;

-- Increase exchange opportunities and radio broadcasts for the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang;

-- Use its influence to ensure that China is not selected as a site for the Olympic Games until it makes significant improvements in human rights, including religious freedom.

In addition, Congress should invite the Dalai Lama, a symbol of the struggle for religious freedom in the face of China's repression, to address a joint session of Congress;

The U.S. should also continue to press China on the five standards that the Commission set forth for granting PNTR, Saperstein noted:

• opening of a high-level dialogue on religious freedom;

• ratification of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights;

• access to Chinese religious leaders, including those imprisoned or detained;

• response to inquiries regarding persons imprisoned and detained for their religious beliefs, including those now missing;

• release of all religious prisoners.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in recent weeks has used the old saw that no one has the right to interfere in China's "internal affairs," Saperstein said. "We and others are not interfering in internal affairs; we are demanding that China live up to the international commitments it has undertaken, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of religion and belief."

Saperstein said the Commission hopes Congress and the administration will study and implement its recommendations regarding China. "In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the condition of religious freedom in China and will make additional recommendations as the situation warrants."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." 

Rabbi David Saperstein,Chair

• Dean Michael K. Young, Vice Chair, Hon. Elliott Abrams, Laila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. Bolton, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, Nina Shea, Justice Charles Z. Smith, Ambassador Robert Seiple, Ex-Officio, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2000

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240

WHAT:Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will testify before the House International Relations Committee during a hearing on the Commission's first annual report, issued May 1. Commission Chair Rabbi David Saperstein and Commissioners Elliott Abrams and Nina Shea will testify. The hearing is being held during the height of the debate in Congress about Permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China, as well as the beginning of a "Sudan Campaign," organized by non-governmental organizations, taking place in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:Room 2172, Rayburn Building

BACKGROUND:The Commission issued its first annual report to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress on May 1. The Commission made recommendations on China, Sudan, and Russia, most notably recommending that Congress grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations status only after China makes substantial improvement in respect for religious freedom. With regard to Sudan, the Commission recommended the U.S. begin a 12-month plan to pressure Sudan's government to improve human rights and bring an end to a 17-year civil war that has killed some 2 million people, mostly Christians and animists in the south. The full report can be found on the Commission's Web site at www.uscirf.gov.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />