Andrea Joy Campbell: “I do not ask any of my brothers and sisters in this House of Representatives to vote no, because the resolution itself…”

“I do not ask any of my brothers and sisters in this House of Representatives to vote no, because the resolution itself in my view is perfectly appropriate, but several of the ``whereas'' clauses, it seems to me, unnecessarily bring us to the edge of possibly saying things with regard to the religion of Islam that would not be constructive, and also with regard to the conditions in China. I draw particular attention to the ``whereas'' clause on page 2 of the committee print: ``Whereas, in several Islamic countries conversion to Christianity from Islam is a crime punishable by death.'' This, I do not think is a helpful statement. I do not think it is helpful to criticize a part of a religion in a book regarding a punishment for giving up the faith, and I note that in the Judeo-Christian religions, as well, to the followers of Christian and Jewish of the Old Testament, the prohibition for blasphemy is stoning, in the book of Deuteronomy. I am concerned as well in the ``whereas'' clauses regarding the militant Government of the Sudan as waging a ``Jihad.'' Surely our cause today and the cause of good feeling and human rights, including religious rights, would be advanced by not using the phrase ``Jihad'' so readily.”