Additional Name(s): 付娟
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: August/17/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Unregistered Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Embezzlement & Fraud Subversion
Fu Juan is detained for her religious activity.
On August 17, 2022, police arrested Fu and two other members of the unregistered house church Church of Abundance in Xi’an city, Shaanxi province, following a reported crackdown on the church's community. Authorities reportedly accused the three of "endangering national security" and fraud.
In February 2023, it was reported that authorities transferred Fu, who had previously been held under residential surveillance at a designated location for the previous six months, to a detention center. During the period of residential surveillance, Fu was reportedly tortured.
In March 2023, Fu was criminally arrested for "fraud."
Related Cases: Lian Changnian, Lian Xuliang
"Fu Juan" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
"XI’AN POLICE TORTURE ANOTHER INNOCENT CHRISTIAN FOR “FRAUD” CASE" ChinaAid
"DEFENDANTS FROM XI’AN CHURCH OF ABUNDANCE CASE TORTURED DURING HOUSE ARREST" ChinaAid
"LEADERS OF XI’AN CHURCH OF ABUNDANCE TRANSFERRED TO DETENTION CENTER" ChinaAid
"WIFE OF IMPRISONED XI’AN PASTOR ADVOCATES FOR HER HUSBAND" ChinaAid
"Concerns for wellbeing of three Christian leaders detained on fraud charges since August" Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
"Detained leaders of Church of Abundance Accused of “Violating National Security”" Bitter Winter
"Xi’an Church of Abundance: Crackdown on a Historical House Church" Bitter Winter
Additional Name(s): 廉长年
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: August/17/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Unregistered Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Embezzlement & Fraud Subversion
Lian Changnian is detained for his religious activity.
On August 17, 2022, police arrested Lian, who is a pastor, and two other members of the unregistered house church Church of Abundance in Xi’an city, Shaanxi province, following a reported crackdown on the church's community. Authorities reportedly accused the three of "endangering national security" and fraud.
In February 2023, it was reported that authorities transferred Lian, who had previously been held under residential surveillance at a designated location for the previous six months, to a detention center. During the period of residential surveillance, Lian was reportedly tortured.
In March 2023, Lian was criminally arrested for "fraud."
Related Cases: Lian Xuliang, Fu Juan
"Lian Changnian" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
"XI’AN POLICE TORTURE ANOTHER INNOCENT CHRISTIAN FOR “FRAUD” CASE" ChinaAid
"DEFENDANTS FROM XI’AN CHURCH OF ABUNDANCE CASE TORTURED DURING HOUSE ARREST" ChinaAid
"LEADERS OF XI’AN CHURCH OF ABUNDANCE TRANSFERRED TO DETENTION CENTER" ChinaAid
"WIFE OF IMPRISONED XI’AN PASTOR ADVOCATES FOR HER HUSBAND" ChinaAid
"Concerns for wellbeing of three Christian leaders detained on fraud charges since August" Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
"Detained leaders of Church of Abundance Accused of “Violating National Security”" Bitter Winter
"Xi’an Church of Abundance: Crackdown on a Historical House Church" Bitter Winter
Mar 8, 2023
USCIRF Observes International Women’s Day
Brings Attention to Religious Freedom Violations Abroad Against Women
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today commemorates International Women’s Day, and highlights the religious freedom violations abroad targeting women based on their gender.
“On this International Women's Day, USCIRF applauds those fighting for women's freedom of religion or belief around the world. USCIRF will always stand up for women's ability to manifest their beliefs through teaching, practice, worship, and observance,” said USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel.
"USCIRF wholeheartedly condemns the targeting of women globally on the basis of religion by governments and non-state entities. These violations of international law are horrific and those perpetrating them must be held accountable. In Cuba, for example, authorities actively surveil and violently detain members of the Ladies in White, an organization of wives and relatives of dissidents imprisoned in 2003, and prevent them from attending religious services on Sundays,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper.
"Since its takeover in 2021, the Taliban has brutally repressed Afghan women by restricting their freedom of movement, dress, education, participation in sports, right to work, and healthcare," said USCIRF Commissioner David Curry.
"In Nigeria, Boko Haram has committed sexual violence against kidnapped women. Nigeria's military reportedly ran a forced abortion program for those who became pregnant and escaped. Five years ago, Leah Sharibu was abducted at the hands of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) alongside 110 other girls. Despite ISWAP releasing most of the girls, Leah has remained in captivity for refusing to abandon her Christian faith and convert to Islam," said USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie.
“Security forces in Iran are subjecting women peacefully protesting mandatory hijab laws to harassment, arrest, torture, assault, and rape. The Iranian government has targeted lesbian and nonbinary women and failed to stop poison attacks on girls' schools,” said USCIRF Commissioner Sharon Kleinbaum.
“In Tajikistan, women wearing a hijab are harassed by the police and blocked from entering government buildings. The Tajik government has even imposed restrictions on how women mourn the dead, including the banning of black clothes," said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid.
“Saudi Arabia continues to treat women as second class citizens under the country's repressive guardianship system and issued a 34-year prison sentence to a woman who in a tweet supported activists protesting this system,” said USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck.
"In India, Dalit women are repeatedly the targets of gang rape and sexual violence. Some women have even been killed during these attacks. This egregious sexual violence has been met with indifference and leniency by state authorities which is unacceptable,” said USCIRF Commissioner Eric Ueland.
"For years, China has subjected Uyghur Muslim women to forced abortions, birth control, and sterilization, a factor that led to the United States government designating China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as genocide and crimes against humanity," said USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf.
Earlier this year, USCIRF led a townhall on Women and International Religious Freedom at the 2023 International Religious Freedom Summit. Last year, USCIRF hosted a hearing on Women’s Roles in Advancing International Religious Freedom which explored the strategies and means through which women work to promote and protect religious freedom abroad, and how the U.S. government can better support such efforts. In recent years, USCIRF has also published reports on Women and Religious Freedom: Synergies and Opportunities and Policy Focus: Women and Religious Freedom.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].