LONDON: Citing growing worries of religious minority communities across the world, most notably in the Middle East and South Asia, the United States House of Representatives voted to create a special envoy for religious rights. Senators and representatives have voiced support for the new envoy, political affiliation notwithstanding. American President Barack Obama will not develop and set up the new envoy. The envoy will be tasked with pressing minority rights in a broad region covering the Arab world, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. But the bill asks the envoy to prioritize Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Lawmakers voiced concern for the safety of Egypt's Coptic Christians during the transition following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. At least two dozen people died in religion-related violence in Egypt in March and May. It comes as the Christian Diaspora and advocates have converged on Washington, citing numerous reports of kidnappings and violence meted out to Egypt's Coptic Christian population, although many human rights groups inside the country say the reports are “blown out of proportion.” Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey called the fate of Egypt's ancient Christian community — which makes up 10 percent of the population — “the bellwether of the rights for religious minorities in the Middle East.” “As the largest and one of the oldest minorities, they are suffering and their escalating agony portends suffering throughout the region,” Smith, a Republican and devout Catholic, said on the House floor. Smith said he heard accounts that Coptic women and girls as young as 14 “are being systematically lured from their families or kidnapped off the street corners and forced to change their religion and forced to marry outside of their community.” Read Bikyamasr.com's report on kidnappings in Egypt Lawmakers also voiced worries over the treatment of Christians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Ahmadiyah Muslim minority in Pakistan, Bahais in Iran and Hindus in Bangladesh. “In Afghanistan and Pakistan, countries where the United States has invested its treasure and the lives of countless brave American soldiers, persecution of Christians runs rampant,” said Representative Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia who sponsored the bill. BM
