| Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Export Enforcement Michael J. Garcia announced today that Johns Hopkins Health
System Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland has agreed to pay the maximum $10,000
civil penalty to settle charges that it violated U.S. antiboycott laws by
discriminating against an individual in support of the Arab League boycott of
Israel. Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation voluntarily disclosed the
incident and cooperated fully with the subsequent investigation. |
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| "As Under Secretary of Commerce for
Industry and Security Kenneth I. Juster recently made clear, the Commerce
Department will vigorously enforce our antiboycott laws," Assistant Secretary
Garcia noted. "This case demonstrates that resolve." |
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| The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS) had charged that in 1995, Johns Hopkins Health System
Corporation discriminated against a U.S. person because she was Jewish. The
person had been seeking a position in the company's International Services
Department, which markets medical services around the world, including in the
Middle East. BIS believes that the discriminatory conduct was motivated by the
company's concern about having a Jewish person in that position because of the
Arab League boycott of Israel. |
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| The antiboycott provisions of the
Export Administration Regulations prohibit U.S. persons from complying with
certain aspects of unsanctioned foreign boycotts imposed or fostered by foreign
governments, including taking discriminatory actions on the basis of religion
or national origin. In addition, the antiboycott regulations require U.S.
persons to report their receipt of certain boycott requests to the BIS's Office
of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC), which investigates alleged violations,
provides support in administrative or criminal litigation of cases, and
prepares cases for settlement. |
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| Assistant Secretary Garcia commended
Senior Compliance Officer Cathleen A. Ryan who conducted the investigation of
this case for OAC. |
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Reprinted from the
US Department of
Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
http://www.bis.doc.gov/press/2002/JohnsHopkinsPays.html |
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