WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing his concerns about the ongoing religious persecution of religious minorities in the People’s Republic of China by communist Chinese government officials. Grassley also asked what steps are being taken by the State Department to target Chinese government officials engaged in the persecution of religious believers.  

“The ongoing efforts of the Chinese Communist Party to suppress religious liberty have implications for the whole of our bilateral relationship with the country,” Grassley wrote.

“Advancing the cause of international religious liberty must be an integral component of our government’s bilateral relationship with China. I encourage the State Department, working with other departments and agencies that interact with China, to integrate concern for religious freedom into all aspects of our bilateral relationship. Respect for natural rights, including freedom of religion, is in our country’s DNA from our founding. While we cannot always control what a foreign government does to its own people, our national character dictates that we use what tools we can to advocate for those whose rights are being denied.”

Earlier this month, Grassley wrote an op-ed criticizing the persecution of religious minorities by Chinese government officials. In response, the Chinese government criticized Grassley and denied any wrongdoing.

Grassley also joined Sen. David Perdue of Georgia in introducing a resolution condemning violence against religious minorities in China and spoke on the Senate floor about the need for China to end religious persecution. 

Full text of the letter is available here or below.

 

The Honorable Mike Pompeo

Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20520

 

Dear Secretary Pompeo,

I am very concerned about the increased persecution of religious minorities in the People’s Republic of China. Reports published by the State Department as well as prominent human rights organizations indicate that the government of China is engaged in a massive effort to repress the natural right of Chinese citizens to practice their faith free from coercion and government influence.

I have been alarmed to read reports about the ongoing crisis in Xinjiang Province, where the Chinese government is illegally detaining upwards of one million Uighur and Kazak Muslims in internment camps simply for expressing their religious beliefs. This coincides with an increasingly severe campaign of persecution against Christians throughout the whole of China. According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, throughout 2017, the Chinese government increased its surveillance of churches, detained preachers and parishioners, and employed physical violence against individuals attempting to save their churches from destruction. These recent campaigns against Christians and Muslims are on top of longstanding human rights abuses suffered by Tibetan Buddhists and practitioners of Falun Gong.

The ongoing efforts of the Chinese Communist Party to suppress religious liberty have implications for the whole of our bilateral relationship with the country. As the U.S. celebrates the 20th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, I would like to take this opportunity to address this important issue with you and to expand upon our recent discussions.

I appreciate efforts by the State Department to advance the cause of international religious liberty and to engage our international partners. The Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom as well as the release of the Potomac Declaration and the Potomac Plan of Action reflect the principles expressed in President Trump’s 2017 National Security Strategy that protecting international religious liberty advances America’s security.

I know you share my concerns about this issue based on our previous conversation. In order to further our dialogue, I would appreciate your answers to the following questions:

  • What steps are being taken by the State Department to target Chinese government officials engaged in the persecution of religious believers under existing statutory authority such as the Global Magnitsky Act, including the widespread imprisonment of Muslims in Xinjiang Province, destruction of churches and other activities to prevent Christians from practicing their faith, and the repression of Tibetan Buddhists as well as Falun Gong practitioners?
  • The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 requires that each year the president designate as a “Country of Particular Concern” each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing violations of religious freedom. China has earned this designation each year since the law’s passage in 1998. Countries of Particular Concern are to be designated “Not later than September 1 of each year”. To date, there has not been a determination that the People’s Republic of China will be relisted under this designation. Does the State Department intend to re-designate China as a Country of Particular Concern, and if so, will that include a determination that it commits “particularly severe” violations of religious freedom?
  • There are numerous reports of Chinese foreign nationals, particularly Uighurs, being forcibly repatriated to China from foreign countries at the behest of Chinese government officials. What actions are being taken with our international partners to prevent the forcible repatriation of Chinese nationals who may face persecution on the basis of the religious beliefs?

Advancing the cause of international religious liberty must be an integral component of our government’s bilateral relationship with China. I encourage the State Department, working with other departments and agencies that interact with China, to integrate concern for religious freedom into all aspects of our bilateral relationship. Respect for natural rights, including freedom of religion, is in our country’s DNA from our founding. While we cannot always control what a foreign government does to its own people, our national character dictates that we use what tools we can to advocate for those whose rights are being denied.

 

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