Tell Congress to Support Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Religious Persecution in China
Tell Congress to Support Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Religious Persecution in China
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/8/2018) – The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged all citizens who value religious freedom to contact their members of Congress and encourage them to support Senate Resolution 667, condemning the widespread persecution of religious minorities in China.
ACT NOW: EMAIL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
On October 4, 2018, Senator David Perdue (R-GA) introduced the bipartisan resolution, which strongly condemns the Chinese government’s persecution of its religious minorities, the placement of Uyghur Muslims in re-education centers, and the censorship of religious texts and materials. It would call on President Trump to use the authority granted by three different laws, which includes the power to impose sanctions on countries found to be in violation of religious freedom and human rights, to address this repression.
He was joined by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
In 2015 and 2017, CAIR sent letters directly to President Xi Jinping responding to reports of Muslims being denied the freedom to fast during Ramadan and the confiscation of Qurans and other religious items, respectively.
On September 10, CAIR called for international action in defense of religious freedom following a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailing the “mass, systematic campaign of human rights violations against Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in northwestern China.” The report revealed that up to 1 million Uyghur Muslims are being held in reeducation centers where they are forced to listen to lectures, sing songs praising the Communist party and abandon from their faith. Some accounts tell of inmates being forced to eat pork and drink alcohol, forbidden activities in Islam.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“The international community, including the United States, must take immediate action to address the brutal, systematic repression being inflicted on Xinjiang’s Muslim population. Reports of mass violations of human rights should not be ignored or excused. Without strong and decisive actions to defend peaceful Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China will feel emboldened to continue, or even step up its campaign of religious oppression.
“As the United States and its European allies engage China on its rising role in global affairs, they must make it clear to the Chinese government that freedom of religion and freedom from persecution for religious beliefs is a hallmark of universal human rights and that they will not stand by while China pursues its anti-Muslim policies.”
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com
Tell Congress to Support Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Religious Persecution in China
Tell Congress to Support Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Religious Persecution in China
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/8/2018) – The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged all citizens who value religious freedom to contact their members of Congress and encourage them to support Senate Resolution 667, condemning the widespread persecution of religious minorities in China.
ACT NOW: EMAIL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
On October 4, 2018, Senator David Perdue (R-GA) introduced the bipartisan resolution, which strongly condemns the Chinese government’s persecution of its religious minorities, the placement of Uyghur Muslims in re-education centers, and the censorship of religious texts and materials. It would call on President Trump to use the authority granted by three different laws, which includes the power to impose sanctions on countries found to be in violation of religious freedom and human rights, to address this repression.
He was joined by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
In 2015 and 2017, CAIR sent letters directly to President Xi Jinping responding to reports of Muslims being denied the freedom to fast during Ramadan and the confiscation of Qurans and other religious items, respectively.
On September 10, CAIR called for international action in defense of religious freedom following a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailing the “mass, systematic campaign of human rights violations against Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in northwestern China.” The report revealed that up to 1 million Uyghur Muslims are being held in reeducation centers where they are forced to listen to lectures, sing songs praising the Communist party and abandon from their faith. Some accounts tell of inmates being forced to eat pork and drink alcohol, forbidden activities in Islam.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“The international community, including the United States, must take immediate action to address the brutal, systematic repression being inflicted on Xinjiang’s Muslim population. Reports of mass violations of human rights should not be ignored or excused. Without strong and decisive actions to defend peaceful Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China will feel emboldened to continue, or even step up its campaign of religious oppression.
“As the United States and its European allies engage China on its rising role in global affairs, they must make it clear to the Chinese government that freedom of religion and freedom from persecution for religious beliefs is a hallmark of universal human rights and that they will not stand by while China pursues its anti-Muslim policies.”
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com