WASHINGTON, DC, May 1, 01 (CWNews.com) - The US Commission on International Religious Freedom on Monday recommended the Bush administration urge China to reduce its onerous repression of religious freedom.
"The situation in China has grown worse in the past year," said Elliott Abrams, chairman of the commission as it issued its second annual report. The commission also named India, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iran, Sudan, Vietnam, and North Korea as either directly repressing religious freedom or allowing elements within the country to oppress others.
The commission report, presented to President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and congressional leaders, had a list of nonbinding recommendations, including censuring China over human rights and opposing its bid to host the Olympics.
In China, the report said, the government has expanded its crackdown on unregistered religious groups, tightened control on official religious organizations, intensified its campaign against the Falun Gong spiritual movement and increased control over official Protestant and Catholic groups as well as Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
1. mai 2001