FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, will participate in a briefing by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) on "U.S. Policy in Central Asia and Human Rights Concerns." On behalf of the Commission, Commissioner Nina Shea will address religious-freedom violations and U.S. policy in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on the eve of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov's visit to Washington, D.C.

Background

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has issued a number of recommendations with regard to the United States' relationship with Uzbekistan. The campaign against terrorism affords the United States a unique opportunity to encourage much-needed improvement by Uzbekistan's government in its abysmal treatment of religious exercise. In so doing the United States demonstrates its commitment to its principles and values, including the very rights and freedoms the terrorists would destroy. (The recommendations are available on the Commission's Web site.)

In view of the ongoing, egregious, and systematic violations of religious freedom in Turkmenistan, in 2000 and 2001 the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called on the State Department to designate Turkmenistan a "country of particular concern," or CPC, pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). However, the State Department so far has not made such a designation.

What:Helsinki Commission Briefing - U.S. Policy in Central Asia and Human Rights Concerns

When:Thursday, March 7, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2325

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, today welcomed President Bush's speech in China emphasizing religious freedom and other human rights. The President spoke at Tsinghua University last Friday.

"President Bush told the Chinese people the truth: Religious believers are not a threat to China's public order - they build civic society" said Felice Gaer of the Commission's executive committee. "It was important that the president's talk was carried live on Chinese television. The Chinese people need to know that America's interest in religious freedom and other human rights is part of who we are as a people, and it's a worldwide concern that China has pledged to respect. It's disturbing that the Chinese authorities censored the printed text."

The presidential speech followed a January 31 Commission letter to the President, recommending he "obtain assurances from the Chinese government that you will be given an opportunity to address the Chinese people directly by live, uncensored broadcast in a major speech on fundamental human rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of religion and belief."

In addition, the Commission issued recommendations regarding China February 13, in which it urged the U.S. government to press China to end its crackdown on religious and spiritual groups; to reform its repressive legal framework; to affirm the universality of religious freedom and China's international obligations; and to foster a culture of respect for human rights. Among its specific recommendations, the Commission wrote that the U.S. government "should seek expanded opportunities to speak frankly and directly to the Chinese people to express why the U.S. government, on behalf of the American people, is concerned with violations of internationally recognized human rights, including freedom of religion or belief."

"We sincerely hope Chinese officials at all levels will take President Bush's words to heart and end their deepening campaign of repression against the Falun Gong, unregistered Protestant and Catholic Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and Uighur Muslims - a campaign that has resulted in tens of thousands sent to detention camps and scores brutally murdered in official custody," Ms. Gaer said. "As the United States deepens its relationship with Beijing, we strongly urge the U.S. government to keep the pressure on China to stop these atrocious violations."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." 

Michael K. Young,Chair

• Felice D. Gaer, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Richard D. Land, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Leila Nadya Sadat, Nina Shea, The Hon. Charles R. Stith, The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2002

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WHAT:Michael K. Young, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, will testify on the Commission's behalf before the House International Relations Committee Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights regarding religious freedom in China and Vietnam.

WHEN:Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

BACKGROUND:On the eve of President George W. Bush's trip to China, the Commission is unveiling its new foreign policy recommendations to the Administration, Department of State, and Congress regarding China. The widespread and serious abuses of the right to freedom of religion and belief in China are well documented by this Commission.

There are numerous serious violations against members of many of China's religious and spiritual communities, including Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, and those groups, such as the Falun Gong and others, that the government has labeled "evil cults."

Chairman Young will also address religious-freedom violations in Vietnam, where conditions have deteriorated since the release of the Commission's Annual Report in May 2001. In particular, several leading religious figures have been imprisoned or placed under house arrest.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." 

Michael K. Young,Chair

• Felice D. Gaer, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Richard D. Land, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Leila Nadya Sadat. Nina Shea, The Hon. Charles R. Stith, The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director