Feb 15, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 14, 2000

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will hold its first hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 15 to examine religious persecution and the 17-year civil war in Sudan. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing room, SR-253, in the Senate Russell Office Building.

A featured witness is Bishop Macram Max Gassis, exiled Roman Catholic Bishop of El-Obeid, Sudan. His testimony will be particularly timely, as last week Sudanese government aircraft bombed an elementary school in his diocese, killing 14 children and a teacher.

The witnesses and schedule are as follows:

9:00-9:15 Opening Comments: Rabbi Saperstein, Chair; Elliott Abrams, Commissioner

Panel I:

9:15-10:15 Bishop Macram Max Gassis, Roman Catholic Church, Sudan; Professor Gáspár Bíró, University of Budapest; Mr. Francis M. Deng, The Brookings Institute

10:15-10:30 Break

Panel II:

10:30-12:15

Baroness Caroline Cox, UK House of Lords

Ms. Victoria Ben Ding, Christian Sudanese exile

Mr. Adlan Abdelaziz, Muslim Sudanese exile

Dr. Eric C. Reeves, on leave from Smith College

12:15-1:15 Lunch

Panel III:

1:15-2:45

Mr. Roger Robinson, Jr., RWR Inc.

Prof. John Voll, Georgetown University

Mr. Ezekiel Gatkuoth, United Democratic Salvation Front

2:45-3:00 Break

Panel IV:

3:00-4:45

Mr. Dan Eiffe, Norwegian People's Aid

Mr. Roger Winter, U.S. Committee for Refugees

Ms. Jemera Rone, Human Rights Watch

Mr. Steve Rickard, Amnesty International

4:45 Closing Statement of Michael Young, Vice Chair

The hearing is held under authority of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Reporters and producers wishing assistance in arranging interviews with witnesses or Commissioners may contact Communications Director Lawrence J. Goodrich, (202) 523-3240.

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." 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

 

 

 

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

Feb 12, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 11, 2000

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

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom announced today additional witnesses who will appear at its Tuesday, Feb. 15, hearing on religious persecution and the civil war in Sudan. The hearing will take place in SR-253, in the Senate Russell Office Building.

Besides such witnesses as Baroness Caroline Cox, Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords; Francis Deng, former Sudanese ambassador to the United States; and Bishop Macram Max Gassis, exiled Roman Catholic bishop of El-Obeid, Sudan, the following will testify:

  • Roger Robinson of the William J. Casey Institute, a former member of the National Security Council staff under President Reagan and expert on how access to U.S. stock markets by foreign companies with investments in Sudan can be regulated;

  • Dan Eiffe of Norwegian People's Aid, which provides food relief in southern Sudan;

  • Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College and expert on foreign investment in Sudan's oil pipeline;

  • John Voll of Georgetown University, a recognized authority on Islamic politics and Sudan;

  • Roger Winter of the U.S. Committee for Refugees, a humanitarian-aid organization having front-line familiarity with how food aid affects the war;

  • Jemera Rone, Sudan expert for Human Rights Watch;

  • Steve Rickard, Director of the Washington, D.C., office of Amnesty International.

The hearing will last from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a break for lunch. The hearing is open to the press and public. Please note that the correct room number for the hearing is SR-253, Senate Russell Office Building (the Senate Commerce Committee hearing room).

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." 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

 

 

 

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

Feb 5, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2000

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

For 17 years, the Sudanese government in Khartoum has waged civil war against Christians and followers of traditional African religions in the south. More than 2 million people have died; millions more have been wounded and displaced. The government has deliberately starved civilians and tolerated the kidnapping of southern women and children by slavers.

The U.S. Administration and Congress are seeking effective ways to help end the fighting and the religious persecution that helps fuel it. Debate now rages on Capitol Hill and in State Department corridors over the best approach: Should the U.S. provide food aid directly to rebel groups, bypassing United Nations efforts that depend on Khartoum's cooperation? Should the U.S. allow foreign companies to offer stocks and bonds in its capital markets when the money invested would underwrite projects in countries under U.S. sanctions for egregious violations of religious freedom? Should the U.S. drop its efforts to isolate Sudan and opt instead for a policy of engagement, reopening its Khartoum embassy?

Seeking answers to these questions, the new U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will hold its first hearings on Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing room, SR-253. The hearings are open to the press and public.

Among those currently scheduled to testify:

* Baroness Cox, Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords who has rescued slaves in more than 20 trips to Sudan;

* Bishop Macram Max Gassis, exiled Roman Catholic bishop of El-Obeid, Sudan;

* Frances Deng, former Sudanese ambassador to the U.S.;

* Gaspar Biro, former United Nations Human Rights Rapporteur for Sudan;

* Christian and Muslim victims of religious persecution in Sudan.

* The hearings are held under authority of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Reporters and producers wishing assistance in arranging interviews with witnesses or Commissioners may contact Communications Director Lawrence J. Goodrich, (202) 523-3240.

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." 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

 

 

 

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
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