religion

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Releases International Religious Freedom Report for 2012

15 years ago, Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act, asserting international religious freedom as a top priority of the United States, as well as a fundamental human right. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, created by the act, released a summary of the state of international religious freedoms. In the report, China was cited under the "Government Restrictions and Abuses" section, meaning laws and policies impede on the religious freedoms. The report states: 

Original Documents at the Laogai Museum Confirming Abuses

Original Documents on Display at the Laogai Museum Confirming Human Rights Abuses Committed by the Chinese Communist Party

by  Laogai Research Foundation

On February 7, 2013, the newly constructed Archives Room at the renowned Laogai Museum was officially opened to visitors. The room serves as another unique way in which the public can gain in-depth knowledge of the various kinds of crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the last six decades.

China, U.S. trade barbs on human rights

BEIJING China slammed the human rights record of the United States in response to Washington's report on rights around the world, saying that U.S. military operations have infringed on rights abroad and that political donations at home have thwarted the country's democracy.

The report released Sunday in China — which defines human rights primarily in terms of improving living conditions for its 1.3 billion people- also cited gun violence in the U.S. among its examples of human rights violations, saying it was a serious threat to the lives and safety of America's citizens.

Obama talks Internet Freedom, Freedom of Religion in Shanghai

On his visit to Shanghai, President Obama defended internet and religious freedoms during a townhall forum with around 400 Shanghai students.  "These freedoms of expression and worship, of access to information and political participation, we believe are universal rights," the president said, referring to four rights curtailed in China.

Unsurprisingly, the Chinese government was at work to censor the President's anti-censorship message, blocking internet portals that streamed the event.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, "Chinese censors blocked Facebook and YouTube, limiting coverage to local TV and China's official news agency." To see the president's message, view the videos below: