Religious Prisoners Congressional Task Force

Religious prisoner index

Thank you for your interest in the Religious Prisoners Congressional Task Force.  Senators and Representatives who are Task Force members advocate for international religious prisoners suffering persecution by appealing directly to foreign government leaders to secure the release of key religious prisoners and to help change hostile policies.  Private citizens also can play a vital role by adopting a religious prisoner.

You can assist persecuted believers by writing to prisoners and by appealing directly to foreign governments on behalf of those specific prisoners.  Your letters will help raise awareness among other governments that the American people are deeply concerned about protecting religious liberty as a fundamental human right for all people, and will aid prisoners who may be suffering at the hands of a hostile government.

As you may know, peaceful religious minorities are persecuted merely for acts of religious faith in numerous countries, as a matter of national policy or because of a lack of protection in national policy.  Religious prisoners suffer a host of abuses including beatings, torture, extended incarceration under egregious conditions, and even death.  These violations strike at the heart of basic religious liberties guaranteed by international treaties and human rights standards.

As citizens of a nation which ardently guards religious freedom, we must use all available opportunities to speak out on behalf of those who have no voice, whose greatest crime is expressing a belief in their God.  As the writer of Galatians says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people."

One of the most effective advocacy measures is writing letters both to government officials and specific prisoners.  Reputable human rights organizations report from experience that this can change prison conditions, stop torture, and even secure the release of prisoners.  Amnesty International recorded the experience of one prisoner of conscience from the Dominican Republic who stated:

When the first two hundred letters came, the guards gave me back my clothes.  Then the next two hundred letters came, and the prison director came to see me.  When the next pile of letters arrived, the director got in touch with his superior.  The letters kept coming and coming: three thousand of them.  The President was informed.  The letters still kept arriving, and the President called the prison and told them to let me go.

Your individual letters, can and do make a difference.

The information on this website will assist you in contacting the appropriate officials to request the release of the prisoner you adopt and in promoting religious freedom as a fundamental human right.  This web page includes:

• A Prisoner profile
• Background information on the prisoner's country
• A sample letter to foreign officials
• The names and addresses of appropriate officials to contact
• Excerpts from international human rights documents

As the writer of Hebrews states, "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."  I encourage you to contact your Representative and Senators to request that they become Members of the Religious Prisoners Congressional Task Force.  In addition, I urge you to share this information with your churches, synagogues, and other appropriate groups in your community.  Should you have further questions, please contact my office at (202)225-2411.

Thank you for your efforts to assist those who wrongfully suffer for their faith.

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Prisoner Index