BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 17|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 17
Author: Anderson (R)
Amended: 8/6/14
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : Iraq: religious freedom
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution urges President Barack Obamas
administration to expedite visa processing for Iraqs minority
groups and to lift the refugee quota cap for Iraqi-Christians in
order to streamline the process of accepting them into the U.S.
as refugees, urges the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution
663, and urges the U.S. Department of State to work with, among
others, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi central
government, and neighboring countries to help secure safe havens
for those claiming amnesty from Iraq. This resolution also
declares that there is an urgent need to protect religious
minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist terrorist
group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as it expands
its control over areas in northwestern Iraq.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1.Iraq is currently embroiled in a political and religious
insurrection stemming from an ISIS-led offensive that began in
the Anbar province and has spread to key locations such as
Mosul, Tikrit, and Samarra and continues to engulf the region
in violence and instability.
CONTINUED
SJR 17
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2.Iraq's population is approximately 31,300,000 with 97% of that
population identifying themselves as Muslim while the
approximately 3% of religious minorities groups consist of
Christians, Yezidis, Sabean Mandaeans, Bahais, Shabaks,
Kakais, and Jews.
3.The Iraqi Constitution provides for religious freedom by
stating all of the following:
A. "No law may be enacted that contradicts the principles
of democracy."
B. "No law may be enacted that contradicts the rights and
basic freedoms stipulated in this Constitution."
C. "[This Constitution] guarantees the full religious
rights to freedom of religious belief and practice of all
individuals such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandean
Sabeans."
1.Over 500,000 people have been displaced by the current ongoing
violence in Iraq while reports have surfaced of targeted
harassment, persecution, and killings of Iraqi religious
minorities by ISIS with little to no protection from the Iraqi
government or other security forces.
This resolution urges President Barack Obama's administration to
expedite visa processing for Iraq's minority groups and to lift
the refugee quota cap for Iraqi-Christians in order to
streamline the process of accepting them into the U.S. as
refugees, urges the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution 663,
and urges the U.S. Department of State to work with, among
others, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi central
government, and neighboring countries to help secure safe havens
for those claiming amnesty from Iraq. This resolution also
declares that there is an urgent need to protect religious
minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist terrorist
group the ISIS as it expands its control over areas in
northwestern Iraq.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SJR 17
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3
AL:k 8/13/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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