Blind activist appeals to US over China’s human rights abuses

Last updated on: April 11, 2013 at 10:34 pm by CNA Daily News

Blind activist appeals to US over China’s human rights abuses 2013-04-11T22:34:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Apr 11, 2013 / 04:34 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Blind Chinese human rights activist and lawyer Chen Guangcheng criticized China for its human rights abuses and asked that the United States holds the foreign country responsible for its actions.

During an April 9 testimony before a U.S. House subcommittee, Chen told legislators that “we cannot continue to tolerate the Chinese Communist authorities continuing to go back on their words and deceiving the international community at will.”

Through a translator, the activist described the persecution he suffered at the hands of the Chinese government for litigating against its widespread human rights abuses.

Blinded by a serious illness when he was young, Chen is a self-educated human rights attorney who spoke out against China's one-child policy and the coerced abortions and sterilizations that are often used to enforce it. His work attracted the anger of Chinese authorities.

Chen spent more than four years in prison and was subsequently placed under house arrest in September 2010. Both he and his family were held without formal charges, endured violent assaults and were refused medical treatment.

In April 2012, Chen escaped from house arrest and fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. He has since moved to the United States.

Since Chen’s escape and immigration to the U.S., several of Chen’s family members have been imprisoned and held under house arrest under false charges and authorities have tried to manipulate his family into cooperating with the Chinese government under threats of harsher sentencing and continued imprisonment.

During his testimony, Chen asked that the U.S. government “formally obtain from the relevant departments of the administrative authorities – and publish – the written and oral diplomatic agreements between China and the United States with regard to this incident of mine, including my letter to Premier Wen Jiabao that I wrote while I was in the U.S. embassy.”

He also asked “the U.S. government to solemnly demand that the Chinese Communist leaders do as they promised,” in prosecuting Chinese officials who violated their own laws in imprisoning him.

The activist also implored U.S. officials to hold China to its commitment to protect his family.

Rep. Chris Smith (R- N.J.) chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights spoke on Chen’s case and other Chinese human rights abuses.

Smith commended Chen for his “brilliant mind, indomitable spirit and unimaginable courage,” for his work to end forced abortion “deemed a crime against humanity at the Nuremberg Nazi War Crimes Tribunal,” and for his attempts to help many to see that the rule of just and compassionate law wasn’t just for the privileged few, but for everyone.”

“It took a blind man to really see the injustice of a population control program that makes most brothers and sisters illegal and to hear the desperate cries of Chinese women,” Smith said.

“It took a blind man, the great Chen Guangcheng, to open the eyes of a blind world to these human rights violations systematically inflicted on Chinese women.”

Smith also introduced the work of “another brave extraordinary hero,” Gao Zhisheng, whose testimony was later given by his wife, Geng He.

“Mr. Gao is the quintessential example of a human rights defender,” Smith said, introducing Gao’s work against religious persecution in China. For his work, Gao was charged with “inciting subversion” and placed under house arrest.

Gao has also sent letters to the United States Congress calling “China’s birth control policy the largest genocide in the history of mankind,” and decrying other human rights abuses. For this, Gao has been detained and tortured for over 16 months.

Previous Post

April 11, 2013

Vatican official urges use of technology to proclaim Gospel

Next Post

April 12, 2013 Cardinal says peace stems from recognition of human dignity

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible has the longest chapter?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Genesis Psalms Jeremiah