Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I also want to thank the witnesses for their wonderful and heartfelt testimonies. As a committee, we are deeply concerned about the plight of religious minorities. Yesterday we had the opportunity to hear from the Baha'i faith, from Christians persecuted in Iraq. Today we heard from the Coptic faith community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, and the Syrian community.
I hate to rush the witnesses. I think a full study needs to be done, as well as a report from this Parliament showing our deepest concern. The policies we have, whether they're through Foreign Affairs or the Immigration and Refugee Board, should be sensitive to the issues affecting these communities. It's intolerable the amount of suffering and discrimination that is taking place.
We are very concerned about the Ahmadiyya community and are aware of their plight. I was pleased with their very succinct presentation, specifically on issues affecting Pakistan and Indonesia. The ordinance and blasphemy laws are deeply troubling, and we're deeply concerned. I think all of us have to be more proactive.
All of these countries are also signatories to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which clearly talks about respect and ensures the fundamental rights of people, including the right to their religion. Yet their religious beliefs are under attack in all these different places by these different governments and regimes. We have a moral responsibility, as the government and parliamentarians, to make sure we shine a light on these abuses and become more proactive.
In our domestic laws as well, when people from the Coptic faith, the Syrian faith, or the Ahmadiyya Muslim community come before the IRB and we know they're being persecuted in certain countries, we must make sure they stay in Canada and are not deported. We cannot add to the tragedy by sending these people back home. We have to do our share.
That is my statement. I don't know if Mr. Sukh Dhaliwal has one more statement to make before we leave. We'll have an opportunity to speak beyond this meeting, and we hope to continue this debate.