HRES 290 · 114th Congress · International Affairs

Calling for the global repeal of blasphemy laws.

Introduced 2015-06-02· Sponsored by Rep. Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16]· House

Bill Progress

Introduced
2
Committee
3
House Vote
4
Senate
5
Enacted
Latest: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .(2016-07-14)

Plain Language Summary

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Recognizes that blasphemy laws position governments as arbiters of truth or religious rightness as they empower officials to enforce particular religious views against individuals and minorities. Calls on the President and the Department of State (Department) to make the repeal of blasphemy laws a priority in their relationships with countries that have such laws. Encourages the President and the Department to oppose any efforts at the United Nations (U.N.) or other international or multilateral fora to create an international anti-blasphemy norm, or attempts to expand the international norm on incitement to include blasphemy or defamation of religions. Supports efforts at the U.N. to combat intolerance or violence against persons based on religion or belief without restricting expression. Reaffirms the decision to designate Saudi Arabia as a "country of particular concern" for detaining and imprisoning people for blasphemy and for imposing torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment, and limit the waiver on this designation to no more than 180 days. Calls on the President and the Department to designate Pakistan and Egypt each as a "country of particular con…

Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only

Cosponsors (20)

8 Democrats12 Republicans