Jody Hice: “The threat to religious liberty and religious toleration in the People's Republic of China is of grave concern. Over the…”

“The threat to religious liberty and religious toleration in the People's Republic of China is of grave concern. Over the past several years there has been an ever increasing intolerance of religious minorities. Article 36 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China guarantees the freedom of religious belief. Yet the rights and safety of religious minorities in the country are very much in question. China is the home to nearly 90 million Christians, and the country is anticipated to be home to the most Christians in the world by 2030. Yet, over the last several years, the percentage of persecution cases have risen year over year. Furthermore, the government has increasingly required churches to be state approved, churches have been razed and worshippers subjected to detainment, physical interrogation, and thought reform conditioning. In the west, in Xinjiang Province, the United Nations has reported the government to be holding roughly one million Uygurs without charge. Those who have escaped have testified to being repeatedly told that God did not exist and that they would only be fed after acknowledging the greatness of communism. Mr. Speaker, I encourage this Congress and our President to take appropriate actions to promote religious freedom of religious minorities in the People's Republic of China. ____________________”