In a statement on the bill, Blunt urged Majority Leader, Harry Reid, to allow a vote on the proposed bill soon, pointing out that that was in the interest of the religious minorities and showed all political leaders in the region that the United States take issues of religious freedom seriously.

The proposed bill stipulates the appointment of a special envoy for supervising the adherence to the rights of religious minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia (Ingī Magdī, al-Yawm al-Sābi', Aug. 26, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.

(Anton Bondarew, Intern)