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Imperial Valley News
July 30 2014
Vargas Praises Passage of H.Res. 683
Details Created on Wednesday, 30 July 2014 17:31 Written by IVN
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) praised the
House Foreign Affairs Committee for unanimously passing House
Resolution 683. H.Res. 683 expresses the sense of the House of
Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need
to protect religious minorities from persecution at the hands of Sunni
Islamist insurgent and terrorist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and
Levant (ISIL), as it expands its control over areas in northwestern
Iraq.
"I commend the Foreign Affairs Committee for shedding light on this
important topic and for supporting our nation's need to be vocal in
the face of these horrific crimes against humanity," said Rep. Vargas.
"I introduced this resolution because of the urgent need to protect
religious Christians in Iraq's ISIL-held territories. Religious
freedom is the cornerstone of any free society and we must do
everything in our power to provide immediate protection and
humanitarian assistance to Iraqi civilians fleeing persecution."
Iraq is currently embroiled in a political and religious insurrection
stemming from an ISIL-led offensive that began in the Anbar province
and has spread to locations such as Mosul, Tikrit and Samarra,
engulfing the region in violence and instability. Iraq's population
is approximately 31.3 million with 97 percent identifying themselves
as Muslim and approximately 3 percent religious minorities, including
Christians, Yezidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Bahais, Shabaks, Kakais and
Jews. Over 500,000 people have been displaced by the current
situation in Iraq and reports have surfaced of targeted harassment,
persecution and the killing of Iraqi religious minorities by ISIL with
little to no protection from the Iraqi government and other security
forces.
Once ISIL established its control over northwestern Iraq and Syria, it
declared a caliphate, warning Christians living under its jurisdiction
to convert to Islam, pay a cumbersome religious tax, or be executed.
Since this declaration, over 10,000 Iraqi Christians have packed their
belongings and fled to neighboring communities in Kurdistan, Syria,
Lebanon and Jordan. The last 1,500 families to leave were robbed at
an ISIS checkpoint and there are reports that there are no more
Christians in Mosul.
This mass exodus represents the largest forced displacement in the
Middle East since the Armenian genocide in Turkey about 100 years ago.
The resolution reaffirms the House of Representatives' commitment to
promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world and
providing relief to minority groups facing persecution. In addition,
the resolution calls on the United States Department of State to work
with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi Central Government,
neighboring countries, the diaspora community in the United States,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other key
stakeholders to help secure safe havens for those claiming amnesty.
Furthermore, it requests the addition of a Special Representative for
Religious Minorities to be included in Iraq's newly reconstructed
government.
Vargas represents California's 51st Congressional District which
includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial
County and California's entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently
serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th
California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California
State Assembly District from 2000 - 2006 and served on the San Diego
City Council from 1993 - 2000.
http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/national-news/10191-vargas-praises-passage-of-h-res-683.html
July 30 2014
Vargas Praises Passage of H.Res. 683
Details Created on Wednesday, 30 July 2014 17:31 Written by IVN
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) praised the
House Foreign Affairs Committee for unanimously passing House
Resolution 683. H.Res. 683 expresses the sense of the House of
Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need
to protect religious minorities from persecution at the hands of Sunni
Islamist insurgent and terrorist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and
Levant (ISIL), as it expands its control over areas in northwestern
Iraq.
"I commend the Foreign Affairs Committee for shedding light on this
important topic and for supporting our nation's need to be vocal in
the face of these horrific crimes against humanity," said Rep. Vargas.
"I introduced this resolution because of the urgent need to protect
religious Christians in Iraq's ISIL-held territories. Religious
freedom is the cornerstone of any free society and we must do
everything in our power to provide immediate protection and
humanitarian assistance to Iraqi civilians fleeing persecution."
Iraq is currently embroiled in a political and religious insurrection
stemming from an ISIL-led offensive that began in the Anbar province
and has spread to locations such as Mosul, Tikrit and Samarra,
engulfing the region in violence and instability. Iraq's population
is approximately 31.3 million with 97 percent identifying themselves
as Muslim and approximately 3 percent religious minorities, including
Christians, Yezidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Bahais, Shabaks, Kakais and
Jews. Over 500,000 people have been displaced by the current
situation in Iraq and reports have surfaced of targeted harassment,
persecution and the killing of Iraqi religious minorities by ISIL with
little to no protection from the Iraqi government and other security
forces.
Once ISIL established its control over northwestern Iraq and Syria, it
declared a caliphate, warning Christians living under its jurisdiction
to convert to Islam, pay a cumbersome religious tax, or be executed.
Since this declaration, over 10,000 Iraqi Christians have packed their
belongings and fled to neighboring communities in Kurdistan, Syria,
Lebanon and Jordan. The last 1,500 families to leave were robbed at
an ISIS checkpoint and there are reports that there are no more
Christians in Mosul.
This mass exodus represents the largest forced displacement in the
Middle East since the Armenian genocide in Turkey about 100 years ago.
The resolution reaffirms the House of Representatives' commitment to
promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world and
providing relief to minority groups facing persecution. In addition,
the resolution calls on the United States Department of State to work
with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi Central Government,
neighboring countries, the diaspora community in the United States,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other key
stakeholders to help secure safe havens for those claiming amnesty.
Furthermore, it requests the addition of a Special Representative for
Religious Minorities to be included in Iraq's newly reconstructed
government.
Vargas represents California's 51st Congressional District which
includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial
County and California's entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently
serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th
California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California
State Assembly District from 2000 - 2006 and served on the San Diego
City Council from 1993 - 2000.
http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/national-news/10191-vargas-praises-passage-of-h-res-683.html