VotedBy VotedBy ⌕
Election Day · Tue, Nov 3See how your members of Congress voted →

H.Res. 732 · 112th Congress

Calling for the protection of the rights and freedoms of religious minorities in the Arab world.

Key: what the circles and colors mean

Each circle is a bill. The ring fills as it moves through Congress:

IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

Under the number: the Yea · Nay count of its final (or latest) recorded vote. On a member's page, the small badge is how that member voted: Y Yea / Aye, N Nay / No, P Present, – Not voting.

Gold and violet are only for Yea and Nay; they never mean a party. A member's party is the letter on their photo.

Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 112th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

TFR FranksSponsor
40 cosponsors · 12 D, 28 R

Recognizes, in light of the upheaval brought by the Arab Spring, that religious freedom is critical to democratization, so that: (1) all people can freely associate, speak, and peacefully participate equally in the political process; and (2) religious minorities are protected during the time of transition in the region.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jul 17, 2012

Recognizes, in light of the upheaval brought by the Arab Spring, that religious freedom is critical to democratization, so that: (1) all people can freely associate, speak, and peacefully participate equally in the political process; and (2) religious minorities are protected during the time of transition in the region.

Calls upon the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to press all member nations to protect the rights of religious minorities within their borders and to treat such minorities as equal citizens. Calls for the prosecution of any crimes against such minorities.

Urges the U.S. government to lead an international effort to support legal and political reforms for the equal protection of religious freedom as a foundation for a stable, peaceful, and lasting democracy in the region by: (1) making legal protection for the freedom of religion and for all who peacefully practice their faith a top priority in all meetings with senior foreign officials; (2) supporting and directing U.S. officials with international programs in the Middle East to work with officials, civil society actors, and ethno-religious communities to educate all sectors of society that religious freedom provides a foundation for democratic freedoms; (3) supporting Internet freedom throughout the region to provide access to information and the free exchange of ideas; and (4) encouraging the protection of places of worship and historic religious and cultural sites against terrorist attacks.

Encourages the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the newly elected Egyptian President to ensure that the constituent assembly will draft a new constitution representing all parts of Egyptian society, including religious minorities.

Calls on the Egyptian government and the local and federal governments of Iraq to prosecute acts of violence against Christians and to make the protection of religious minorities a priority.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Calling for the protection of the rights and freedoms of religious minorities in the Arab world.

Latest action (Jul 17, 2012): Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Policy area: International Affairs · Origin: House · Introduced: Jul 17, 2012

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.