Saving a drowning man

International | Can religious freedom be brought aboard the lifeboat of U.S. foreign policy? | Mindy Belz

"Human rights are the island off the mainland of U.S. foreign policy," Stephen Prichard of Amnesty International lamented before a House subcommittee in hearings in March. Sailing along with that maritime metaphor, Nina Shea of Freedom House added, "Those of us interested in religious human rights have been the drowning man in the life raft just off the island."

Can that man be pulled ashore? Can at least a causeway unite the island and the mainland? Those are questions in Congress these next several months-and in the meantime, persecution overseas is rising.

The Freedom From Religious Persecution Act on March 25 passed the House Committee on International Relations 31-5, despite "unbelievably intense" Clinton administration opposition and veto threats, according to the Hudson Institute's Michael Horowitz. Supporters hope the full House will vote on the measure in May. It establishes an executive branch office to monitor religious persecution, cuts off "non-humanitarian aid" when necessary, and imposes other restrictions on countries that persecute. While isolating governments that mistreat religious believers, the bill avoids trade restrictions-with the exception of sanctions on Sudan-that have stalled other congressional efforts. "This is by and large not a trade bill," says Ann Huiskes, legislative aide to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), the legislation's sponsor in the House.