(Clearwisdom.net) On May 3, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued its annual report and once again designated China as "Country of Particular Concern". The report pointed out that the "Chinese government continues to engage in systematic and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief" and "the crackdowns on the Falun Gong continue to be widespread and violent".
According to a report by Radio Free Asia on May 3, the U.S. Department of State submitted a report which detailed the religious freedom situation of 11 countries to Congress. The report pointed out that the performance of the Chinese Communist regime in respecting freedom of religion and conscience remained poor.
The report stated: "Chinese law bans unregistered religious organizations and provides severe penalties for engaging in unregistered religious activities. The Commission pointed out to government officials that under international human rights standards, failure to register cannot alone justify government imposed limitations on religious activities, or the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of members of unregistered religious groups."
The report pointed out that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trial or sent to mental health institutions for re-education.
The report said: "Falun Gong practitioners claim that between 1,000 to 2,000 practitioners have been killed as a result of police brutality. Given the lack of judicial transparency, the number and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in confinement is difficult to confirm. Nevertheless, there is substantial evidence from foreign
diplomats, international human rights groups, and human rights activists in Hong Kong that the crackdowns on the Falun Gong continue to be widespread and violent."
At the press conference held in conjunction with the report, Dr. Richard D. Land, member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, said that the Commission has designated China as a Country of Particular Concern since 1999 because the Chinese communist Party severely violates freedom of religion.
In August 2005, the commission made its first 2-week visit to China and discussed religious freedom issues with Chinese leaders. However, the commission found that the Chinese communist regime's performance in respecting freedom of religion and conscience remains poor. Therefore, the commission recommended the U.S. Department of State continue to include China on its list of Countries of Particular Concern.
Dr. Land pointed out that famous religious leaders and disciples continued to be arrested and detained for their beliefs and they were subject to torture, abuse, prison terms or forced-labor reeducation. Members of underground churches, Tibetan Buddhism and groups labeled as "evil cults" are being monitored even more closely.
According to leaders of underground religions, authorities pressured them to register with government agencies and become sanctioned religious groups under the CCP's control. In some regions, security officials used measures including intimidation, extortion, harassment, detention and even torture to harass leaders and disciples of unregistered religious groups.
The report hopes that the United States Government will urge the Chinese Communist regime to stop the suppression of religions and spiritual groups and release all religious dissidents. In particular, the report stressed that the U.S. government should request the communist regime to stop controlling websites related to religious freedom and human rights and to stop filtering email.
