A resolution condemning the terrorist attacks on Christian worshipers in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, and standing with the Government of Sri Lanka to encourage the protection and preservation of religious liberties.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 176 Condemning the terrorist attacks on Christian worshipers in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, and standing with the Government of Sri Lanka to encourage the protection and preservation of religious liberties. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 30, 2019 Mr. HAWLEY (for himself, Mr. COTTON, Mr. BLUNT, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. PERDUE) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tions RESOLUTION Condemning the terrorist attacks on Christian worshipers in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, and standing with the Government of Sri Lanka to encourage the protection and preservation of religious liberties. Whereas, on the morning of April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, 7 Islamist suicide bombers carried out coordinated at- tacks on— (1) the Shrine of St. Anthony Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka; (2) St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka; (3) Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka; (4) Zion Evangelical Church in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR176.IS SR176 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 176 IS (5) a guest house near the National Zoo of Sri Lanka; and (6) a housing complex in Dematagoda, Sri Lanka; Whereas more than 250 people were killed and more than 500 people were injured in the attacks; Whereas the attackers acted in the name of National Thowheeth Jama’ath (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘NTJ’’), a local Islamist group that had previously at- tacked Buddhist monks and statues; Whereas NTJ has ties to global Islamist terrorist organiza- tions and subscribes to an intolerant Wahhabi ideology that condones violence against non-Muslims and fellow Muslims; and Whereas the Wall Street Journal has reported that, according to SITE, a terrorist-monitoring firm, on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, the Islamic State released a video claiming re- sponsibility for the attacks, stating that ‘‘the executors of the attack that targeted citizens of coalition states and Christians in Sri Lanka two days ago were Islamic State fighters’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) condemns the April 21, 2019, terrorist at- 2 tacks in Sri Lanka as— 3 (A) targeted principally against Christians 4 because of their faith, on their holy day of 5 Easter, during their Easter prayers; and 6 (B) perpetrated by radical Islamist terror- 7 ists acting in the name of a hateful radical 8 Islamist ideology; 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR176.IS SR176 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 176 IS (2) considers the April 21, 2019, terrorist at- 1 tacks to be an attack on— 2 (A) all Christians and members of all 3 faiths in Sri Lanka and around the world; and 4 (B) the basic human liberty of freedom of 5 religion; 6 (3) stands with the Government of Sri Lanka 7 in bringing peace and security to the citizens of Sri 8 Lanka, particularly the religious communities of Sri 9 Lanka; and 10 (4) calls on Sri Lanka and all governments— 11 (A) to protect the freedom of religion, at 12 home and abroad; and 13 (B) to partner with the United States in 14 advancing security and freedom. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR176.IS SR176 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS