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HR 439
As Adopted by House

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H. R. No. 439 As Adopted by the House

As Adopted by the House

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. R. No. 439

Representatives Pelanda, Clyde

Cosponsors: Representatives Adams, R., Amstutz, Antonio, Baker, Barborak, Barnes, Beck, Bishoff, Blair, Blessing, Boose, Boyce, Brenner, Brown, Buchy, Budish, Burkley, Butler, Carney, Celebrezze, Cera, Conditt, Curtin, Derickson, Dovilla, Driehaus, Duffey, Fedor, Foley, Gerberry, Gonzales, Green, Grossman, Hackett, Hagan, C., Hagan, R., Hall, Hayes, Heard, Henne, Hill, Hottinger, Huffman, Johnson, Kunze, Landis, Letson, Lundy, Lynch, Mallory, McClain, McGregor, Milkovich, Patterson, Perales, Pillich, Redfern, Reece, Rogers, Romanchuk, Rosenberger, Ruhl, Schuring, Sears, Sheehy, Slaby, Smith, Sprague, Stebelton, Stinziano, Sykes, Terhar, Wachtmann, Williams, Winburn, Young

A RESOLUTION

To condemn flagrant breaches of international human rights laws, to express support for the provision of United States assistance to Nigeria in safely returning the more than 200 female students abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram, and to urge the President of the United States to take action to prevent the execution of Meriam Ibrahim by the government of Sudan.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       WHEREAS, On April 14, 2014, more than 200 teenage female students were forcefully abducted from their dormitories at the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in northeast Nigeria by the terrorist group known as Boko Haram; and

        WHEREAS, Boko Haram claims full responsibility for this heinous abduction and is threatening to sell the girls into sexual slavery; and

        WHEREAS, Boko Haram, which means "Western education is evil," rejects Western culture, including the education of women and girls. Boko Haram attempts to stifle the education of young Nigerian women by inciting fear and violence; and

        WHEREAS, It has been reported that an additional eleven girls were kidnapped from their villages on May 12, 2014, in the northeastern province of Borno by men armed with AK-47s; and

        WHEREAS, The international community continues to express outrage about the abduction of these young girls. President Obama has therefore pledged military and law enforcement advisors to Nigeria to support its efforts to find and free the girls, which Nigeria has accepted; and

       WHEREAS, Meriam Ibrahim, a citizen of Sudan, has been sentenced by the government of Sudan to 100 lashes and death by hanging for her religious beliefs. According to Sudan's Public Order Criminal Code, Meriam is guilty of both adultery and apostasy for marrying a Christian man and turning away from Islam; and

       WHEREAS, Meriam Ibrahim is married to Daniel Wani, a resident of New Hampshire and a citizen of the United States. Meriam and Daniel's son, a United States citizen, currently is imprisoned with his mother; and

       WHEREAS, The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is a universal declaration of the American people that freedom of religion is an unalienable right based solely on the humanity of people; now therefore be it

        RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the United States both to continue to support the efforts of the Nigerian government to safely return the abducted girls to their families and to act swiftly and decisively to save Meriam Ibrahim from execution by the government of Sudan; and be it further

        RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives send duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.