Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code FOR

16. Specific lobbying issues

On behalf of dozens of organizations and individuals, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter, made contacts in support of the immediate confirmation of Rashad Hussain as the new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. It is vitally important that this position be filled. For even as we speak, the cause of religious freedom finds itself in an increasingly precarious position, as we see restrictions on religion rising around the world. Mr. Rashad Hussain is impeccably qualified for the position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. He has worked to promote religious freedom for people of all faiths for more than a decade, having served as U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation from 2010-2015 and U.S. Special Envoy for strategic counterterrorism communications from 2015-2017. He currently serves as the Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement at the U.S. National Security Council. The appointment of the new IRF Ambassador will reaffirm the importance of this fundamental human right and assure persecuted communities that America continues to stand for their freedoms.

On behalf of 86 organizations and individuals, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter, made contacts to request specific steps to assist non-governmental organizations in the evacuation and safeguarding of vulnerable religious minorities from Afghanistan, including Shia Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Bahais, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and others. Immediate action is imperative to fulfill the pledge made in recent speeches that: human rights will be the center of our foreign policy, and the many pledges confirming the government's commitment to international religious freedom. We also believe that current Taliban actions warrant reimposition of US sanctions and freezing of funds and future assistance to a Taliban run Afghan government until they cease violating the rights of religious minorities. We collectively have assembled numerous reports of horrific mistreatment of religious minorities by Taliban militants now roaming freely throughout Afghanistan. Christians and others seeking refuge at Kabul Airport have been murdered, whipped, had their ID documents seized, and their cell phones destroyed. They are being identified via government records and hunted down in door-to-door searches. They are receiving officially stamped threat letters warning that they have been identified for arrest or worse. Property is being stolen. Women are being seized, raped (married in the eyes of Taliban thugs), or killed, and men are being summarily executed or tortured. Shia celebrating Ashura have seen their banners torn down, a harbinger of worse to come. The Organization for Islamic Cooperation has called on the Taliban to adhere to international
governing norms enshrined in the UN Charter and resolutions and to follow tolerant Islamic
principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which includes the right to
freedom of religion and belief. We also believe that the victory of the Taliban creates a world-wide threat to all religious groups that do not share its radical views-as well as a substantial threat to the national security of the United States and our allies. Taliban rule in Afghanistan will likely have swift negative consequences for our efforts to bring religious freedom, peace and stability to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Africa, and other flashpoints. US based NGOs and others are amassing funds and capabilities to evacuate religious minorities and women to safe havens even as your Administration and our allies are working to repatriate our citizens and those who worked directly for us. Various countries are committed to taking some of these evacuees and the US should do so as well.

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

State - Dept of (DOS), U.S. SENATE, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

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Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE

29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
No Yes