Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should grant asylum to Aasiya Noreen, internationally known as Asia Bibi, and her immediate family, due to the persecution she has faced on account of her religion.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 89 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should grant asylum to Aasiya Noreen, internationally known as Asia Bibi, and her immediate family, due to the persecution she has faced on account of her religion. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 30, 2019 Mr. CALVERT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should grant asylum to Aasiya Noreen, internationally known as Asia Bibi, and her immediate family, due to the persecution she has faced on account of her religion. Whereas the United States is a Nation founded on the prin- ciples of freedom of religion and freedom of speech; Whereas the right to due process is enshrined in the United States Constitution; Whereas Asia Bibi and her family are practicing Pakistani Catholics, a minority group in Pakistan; Whereas, in June 2009, Asia Bibi was accused of insulting the Muslim faith in a confrontation with a neighbor and VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR89.IH HR89 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 89 IH drinking from a water source reserved solely for Muslim use; Whereas, in November 2010, Asia Bibi, was sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani District Court under Article 295–C of Paki- stan’s penal code; Whereas Asia Bibi appealed her sentence, but it was upheld in October 2014 by the Lahore High Court of Appeals; Whereas, in October 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan rightfully acquitted Asia Bibi due to insufficient evidence; Whereas Asia Bibi and her family have been forced into hid- ing for fear of extrajudicial murder; Whereas in Pakistan, being accused of blasphemy by either the government or a private individual, can lead to vio- lence against the accused; Whereas human rights violations in Pakistan include incon- sistent due process, poor prison conditions, lengthy and arbitrary sentences, and lack of judicial independence; and Whereas the United States may grant asylum to people who have been persecuted by their government on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political belief: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the importance of granting asy- 2 lum to those with legitimate claims of persecution 3 for their religion, race, nationality, membership in a 4 social group, or political belief; and 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR89.IH HR89 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 89 IH (2) supports granting asylum in the United 1 States to Aasiya Noreen and her immediate family. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR89.IH HR89 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS