Ahead of the visit to China of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in May 2022, CSW has produced the following briefing, including both benchmarks for the visit itself, and some current violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China.
CSW has called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) with the Chinese authorities as a matter of urgency during her visit to China from 23-28 May.
The former bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, was reportedly arrested on 11 May and released on bail after being questioned for a number of hours. The Vatican stated that it was following developments “with extreme attention” in a statement issued on the same day.
90-year-old Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen arrested READ MORE
During Q1 2022, we recorded 80 incidents of FoRB violations, involving at least 300 individuals and seven faith groups. On 4 February 2022, the world watched while performers representing China’s 56 ethnic groups carried the national flag and a female Uyghur athlete lit the Olympic cauldron. These scenes were supposed to “boast ethnic unity” in
China Voices: January – March 2022 READ MORE
There has been a critical deterioration in the overall protection of human rights in China since 2013. The realisation of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China remains a mixed picture, and conditions vary according to religion, location, ethnicity, attitudes of local officials, and other factors. However, overall, the level of FoRB is rapidly and significantly decreasing against a backdrop of broader human rights violations which in some cases amount to crimes against humanity, requiring the urgent attention of the international community.
General Briefing: China 2022 READ MORE
Introduction CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) is a human rights organisation specialising in the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. CSW is concerned by a critical deterioration in the overall protection of human rights in China since 2013, including the arbitrary detention, torture, and forced labour of millions of Uyghurs and other
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Independent house church leader Pastor Hao Zhiwei has been sentenced to eight years on ‘fraud’ charges by the authorities in Ezhou in China’s central Hubei province. At least ten leaders and co-workers from four unregistered Protestant churches were arrested in 2021 and are facing similar charges.
House church leader sentenced to eight years in prison on fraud charges READ MORE
Authorities in Guiyang, in China’s southwestern Guizhou province, appear to have charged church elder Zhang Chunlei with an additional charge of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ on top of the charge of fraud he is already facing.
Detained house church leader charged with inciting subversion of state power READ MORE
The pro-Beijing newspaper Tai Kung Pao, controlled by the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Hong Kong, has issued articles criticising “Western” religions and Falun Gong, and attacking religious leaders and teachers for inciting people to participate in demonstrations.
Pro-Beijing Hong Kong media criticises religious leaders and Falun Gong READ MORE
Over 240 human rights organisations have called for action on human rights in China ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, scheduled to take place from 4 to 20 February. In a statement issued at 12am (GMT) on 28 January, signatories, including CSW, stated that the 2022 Olympics will open “amid atrocity crimes and other grave human rights violations by
Over 240 organisations call for action on human rights ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics READ MORE
