Today Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay) introduced a bicameral resolution condemning the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. The attacks, perpetrated by an Islamist terrorist group with links to ISIS, killed more than 250 people and injured more than 500 others. The resolution calls the bombings an attack on “the basic human liberty of freedom of religion.”
“I am disgusted by the recent string of attacks on people in their places of worship. No one should feel threatened while practicing their faith,” said Sen. Hawley. “We should condemn the despicable acts of violence in Sri Lanka in the strongest terms possible and call it what it is – radical Islamic terrorism. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities grieving the loss of their loved ones on such a holy day for the Christian faith.”
“The Easter attacks against Christians in Sri Lanka must be forcefully condemned,” said Rep. Gallagher. “Acts of violence against any person of faith, in any country, cannot be tolerated, and demonstrate the need for all of us to unite against extremist ideology. I stand with my colleagues against these heinous acts and offer my deepest condolences to the people of Sri Lanka as they recover.”
Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are original co-sponsors in the Senate. The resolution also calls on the Government of Sri Lanka and all governments to protect and preserve religious liberty.
Text of the resolution can be found here.