Tag: Human rights

Flattered to be recognized by China for calling out genocidal crimes: USCIRF Chair
30Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Flattered to be recognized by China for calling out genocidal crimes: USCIRF Chair

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Gayle Manchin has said that he feels flattered to be recognized by "Communist China" for calling out genocidal crimes against religious and ethnic minorities in the country."I feel flattered to be recognized by Communist China for calling out genocidal crimes against religious and ethnic minorities in the country," USCIRF Chair said in a tweet while taking a jibe at the Chinese government over the issue of rights abuses in Xinjiang."While I don't have plans to travel to China this summer, I won't stop speaking out when egregious violations of religious freedom are taking place as they are in China," said Manchin.His remarks came after China on Saturday announced sanctions against American and Canadian officials ...
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Myanmar: 11 more protesters killed as military intensifies crackdown
3Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Myanmar: 11 more protesters killed as military intensifies crackdown

After security forces in Myanmar heavily intensified the crackdown on protests against the military coup, reports say that at least 11 more people were killed on Wednesday.The demonstration against the Myanmar Army, which seized power on February 1 and ousted the democratically elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has entered its fourth week.Security forces have begun a violent crackdown on protestors in towns and cities across the country.At least 18 people were killed and more than 30 injured in Myanmar on Sunday, as police and military forces “confronted peaceful demonstrations,” the UN Human Rights Office said. The reported casualties marked Sunday as the deadliest day since the military seized power on February 1.The UN Human Rights Office said it had received “cred
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Hindu temple destroyed, set on fire by mob in Pakistan
31Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Hindu temple destroyed, set on fire by mob in Pakistan

In a video clip which went viral on social media, a mob of over hundred people led by local Muslim clerics reportedly destroyed and set on fire a Hindu temple in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.The video shows a violent mob destroying the walls and roof of the temple. The act against Hindu minority community is widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.Shama Junejo, a London-based human rights activist tweeted, "This is new Pakistan! A Hindu Temple was destroyed today in Karak, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, governed by PTI Govt. Police or forces didn't stop the mob because they were chanting Allah-o-Akbar. A shameful day, Beyond condemnation indeed!"Mubashir Zaidi, a journalist based in Karachi tweeted, "#BR...
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Canada calls for transparency in trial of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors
30Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Canada calls for transparency in trial of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors

After Beijing detained 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists - also known as the Shenzen 12 – who were allegedly attempting to flee to Taiwan in August to escape the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) draconian National Security Law, Canada has voiced its concern and urged the Chinese authorities to conduct trials on the basis of the Human Rights framework."Canada expresses deep concern over the secret trial involving the Shenzhen12. We urge Chinese authorities to conduct trials in accordance with due process and judicial transparency in line with international Human Rights norms and standards," the Canadian Government's foreign policy handle tweeted.London also expressed concern that the defendants were "tried in secret" and were denied access to lawyers of their choosing."We are deeply conce
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China used ETIM’s designation as terrorist group for genocide of Uyghurs: Human rights group
11Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China used ETIM’s designation as terrorist group for genocide of Uyghurs: Human rights group

Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), a non-profit human rights organization, has said that China used the designation of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist organization for the genocide of the Uyghurs and people have been falsely linked to the ETIM movement for expressing their ethnic identity and religious beliefs.CFU’s remarks came as it hailed the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to revoke the designation of ETIM from its terrorist list after nearly two decades that has led to the weakening of China’s anti-terror pretext for crackdown on Uyghurs in Xinjiang.“The integrity of this decision speaks volumes, and as the leadership of the Chinese regime has changed to a softer tone as it tries to suck up to what it views as the sure next US administration,” the CFU said
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US Senators urge Disney CEO to explain why it cooperated with Xinjiang authorities
25Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US Senators urge Disney CEO to explain why it cooperated with Xinjiang authorities

As the controversy around ‘Mulan’ movie grows, a group of US senators has called on the CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, to explain the movie giant's cooperation with the authorities in the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang during the production of the movie.Disney live-action remake of ‘Mulan’ is facing heat for partly being filmed in the Xinjiang region, where US senators have accused the Chinese authorities of oppression against ethnic Uyghurs."We are writing to inquire about The Walt Disney Company's cooperation with elements of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region's (XUAR) security and propaganda authorities in the production of Mulan. Disney's apparent cooperation with officials of the People's Republic of China (PRC) who are most responsible for committing atrocities--or for covering
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Pakistan conspiring demographic change in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan: Report
18Sep By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan conspiring demographic change in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan: Report

In the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit Baltistan, the population of minority Shia population is declining rapidly, clearly highlighting Pakistan’s attempts to change the demographics through the targeted genocides of minorities, and settling down of Punjabi elites and Army men in the region.Pakistan has already been successful to cleanse the Sikh population from PoJK and now, Chinese workers and army men are settling down in these areas in the guise of working for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).A report titled “Human Lives Matter: A Comparative Study and Analysis of Human Development and Human Rights in J&K and PoJK/G-B” by Law and Society Alliance, shows the status of human development and human rights conditions in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Pa
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Accused of ‘Defaming Islam’, Bangladesh blogger fears for family
11Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Accused of ‘Defaming Islam’, Bangladesh blogger fears for family

Accused of defaming Islam, Bangladeshi blogger and secular activist Asaduzzaman Noor, fears for the safety of his family living at Amtali Upzila of Barguna district (around 320 km south of Dhaka).He says that his family is being harassed by the government for posting a Facebook video criticizing alleged appropriation of a Buddhist temple.Noor has been in hiding — in Bangladesh and abroad — for past several years after receiving death threats from Islamist groups for defending a Buddhist monk, and 10 Minute School, a pro-LGBTQ platform.He has been charged under the Digital Security Act, 2018, for defaming Islam — an offence punishable with a jail term of up to 10 years. Amnesty International has described the law as a serious threat to freedom of expression in Bangladesh.Bloggers, social me
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Pakistan must protect religious freedom for Hindus: Human Rights group
17Jul By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan must protect religious freedom for Hindus: Human Rights group

A human rights panel has called on the Pakistani authorities to protect the right to freedom of religion and belief for the country’s beleaguered Hindu community, including the construction of temples to exercise that right.“The respect for the right to freedom of religion was promised to Pakistan’s Hindus by the country’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Those who deny a long-marginalized community the right to practise their faith freely not only betray his legacy, but also violate the human rights of religious minorities protected under Pakistan’s constitution and its international human rights obligations,” said Omar Waraich, Head of South Asia at Amnesty International.The human rights organization’s call came as authorities in Islamabad capitulated to pressure from a discriminatory campa
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China violates human rights of its citizens but urges US to secure human rights of ethnic minorities
13Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China violates human rights of its citizens but urges US to secure human rights of ethnic minorities

While several human right organizations continue to report gross mistreatment of thousands of Uighur Muslims and Hong Kong citizens in China, Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged the United States to secure the human rights of ethnic minorities in the country.Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during a press conference said: “We are following the latest developments of the situation following the death of George Floyd. ‘Black lives matter.’ Their human rights should be protected. Racial discrimination against ethnic minorities remains a social ill in the US. What is happening right now once again shows the seriousness of racial discrimination and violent law enforcement by the police, and the urgency for the US to address them.”“We hope the US government will take concrete m
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