Jun 2, 2020
USCIRF Applauds Executive Order to Advance International Religious Freedom
Washington, DC –The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order on “Advancing International Religious Freedom,” which elevates the U.S. government’s prioritization of religious freedom in its foreign policy; increases foreign assistance funding to $50 million annually; expands mandatory training on international religious freedom to more federal officials; encourages the utilization of economic tools; and more explicitly integrates international religious freedom into U.S. bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
“We applaud President Trump for continuing to prioritize international religious freedom as a national security imperative and a foreign policy priority,” USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins stated. “This Executive Order encourages swift action by the U.S. government to hold accountable foreign governments that commit severe violations and substantially increases U.S. economic assistance to support programs that advance religious freedom around the world.”
According to the Executive Order, the Secretary of State will “develop a plan to prioritize international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of United States foreign policy and in the foreign assistance programs of the Department of State and USAID,” with a budget of at least $50 million per fiscal year for programs that advance international religious freedom. These programs will assist religious minority communities, promote accountability of the perpetrators for attacks, guarantee equal rights and legal protections for individuals and groups regardless of belief, improve the safety and security of houses of worship and public spaces for all faiths, and protect cultural heritages of religious communities.
“USCIRF has long called on the U.S. government to develop an overall strategy for promoting religious freedom abroad, as well as country-specific action plans, and we welcome the fact that this Executive Order requires the State Department and USAID to do exactly that,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Gayle Manchin. “We also appreciate the express reference to U.S. officials working for the release of religious prisoners of conscience, which is a high priority for USCIRF.”
USCIRF’s most recent recommendations to the Administration to advance religious freedom globally can be found in its 2020 Annual Report.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or 202-523-3240.
May 29, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2020
USCIRF Commissioner James Carr Adopts Deacon Zhang Wen Shi of North Korea and Pastor A Dao of Vietnam through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner James W. Carr announced today his adoptions of Deacon Zhang Wen Shi (also known as Jang Moon Seok) and Pastor A Dao, both of whom he will advocate for as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.
Deacon Zhang ministered to North Koreans living in Changbai, China, until he was abducted by North Korean agents in November 2014. He was formally arrested and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
“Deacon Zhang committed no crime and took no action against North Korea, and yet he now languishes in a prison camp because the regime is terrified of religion,” said USCIRF Commissioner Carr. “Sadly, Deacon Zhang is far from unique. He is one of the thousands of Christians and other religious believers held in political prison camps. In the U.S. government’s continued negotiations with the North Korean government, we must not forget about victims like Deacon Zhang.”
According to USCIRF’s 2020 Annual Report, any religious adherents in North Korea caught practicing their faith or possessing religious texts risks arrest, torture, or even execution. The government views Christians as especially suspect. USCIRF has called upon the U.S. Department of State to fill the vacancy for the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, which has been vacant since January 2017.
A Dao was the lead pastor of the unregistered Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ in Vietnam. In August 2016, he attended the Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAFORB II) Conference in East Timor. Upon his return, Vietnamese authorities arrested him and, on April 28, 2017, sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
“A critical part of religious freedom is the ability to speak out about government abuses,” Commissioner Carr added. “Nobody should be arrested simply because they led an unregistered house of worship or attended an international conference. USCIRF urges the government of Vietnam to release Pastor A Dao early as an act of compassion.”
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department designate Vietnam a “country of particular concern” (CPC), in part because Vietnamese authorities regularly harass unregistered Montagnard house churches like Pastor A Dao’s.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].
Gender: Female
Current Location: Tianjin Women’s Prison
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December//2017
Date of Sentencing: December//2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Gao Jianling
Extra Bio Info:
Gao Jianling is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
In December 2017, authorities arrested Gao reportedly in relation to her practice of Falun Gong.
In December 2018, Gao was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Gao is believed to be serving her sentence in Tianjin Women’s Prison.
There are reports that Gao was mistreated and tortured while imprisoned. Gao reportedly went on hunger strike in protest of the treatment.
Gao has reportedly been arrested previously for her Falun Gong activities.