Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, much ink has been used regarding Secretary of State John Kerry's comments this weekend characterizing Vladimir Putin's outrageous incursion into Ukraine as a ``19th century act in the 21st century.'' But if we are looking through the lens of history, it is also worth noting what a small community of Syrian Christians has been forced to endure. Writing in National Review Online this week, stalwart religious freedom advocate Nina Shea authored a piece, headlined, ``Syrian Jihadists Are Forcing Christians to Become Dhimmis Under Seventh- Century Rules.'' Shea notes: The religious persecution in Syria deepened this week, as evidenced by a written ultimatum purportedly distributed by the rebel jihadist group ISIS, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, to Christians in the northern providence capital of Raqqa. Rejecting conversion to Islam or death, some 20 Christian leaders of that city held firm in their faith and submitted to the Islamists' demands to live by as dhimmis. Shea continued to explain the implications of this status. She said: Under this arrangement, in exchange for their lives and the ability to worship as Christians, they must abide by purported seventh-century rules of Caliph Umar.…”