The statement comes after repeated reports outlined Beijing’s ongoing repression and harassment of religious followers.
The U.S. government plans to impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in the repression of religious and ethnic minority groups in China, the State Department says.
As examples, he cited “the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, the erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, persistent human rights abuses in Tibet, and transnational repression around the world.”
Mr. Miller didn’t name the officials who face visa restrictions or say how many people may be affected.
The statement comes after repeated reports outlined Beijing’s ongoing repression and harassment of religious followers and amid mounting calls in Congress and elsewhere for action to protect repressed groups in China.
Adherents of these faith groups faced harassment, torture, arrest, detainment, physical abuse, forced indoctrination in CCP ideology, or even death, according to the report.
The commission’s report indicated that in 2023, religious freedom in China worsened as the regime pushed forward the “sinicization of religion,” demanding that all major religious groups comply with the CCP’s ideology and policies.
“Sinicization requires groups to follow the CCP’s Marxist interpretation of religion, including by altering religious scriptures and doctrines to conform to that interpretation.”
It also found that “Organs are harvested from Falun Gong and Uyghurs, some while still alive.”
The commission recommended that the U.S. federal government “continue imposing sanctions, in coordination with partners, to target Chinese officials and entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations.” It also urged Congress to ban foreign lobbying by agents representing the Chinese regime and its state-affiliated commercial entities that undermine religious freedom and related human rights.
Source link
Add comment