President Barack Obama boards Air Force One in Nevada to
depart for Hawaii on his way to tour Midway Atoll and
attend summits in Laos and China. Reuters
depart for Hawaii on his way to tour Midway Atoll and
attend summits in Laos and China. Reuters
Christian Today
President Barack Obama has been urged to raise the issue of religious freedom in China when he visits next week for the G20 summit.
Obama will be in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, on September 4 and 5. The province has been the focus of a months-long campaign to remove hundreds of crosses from church buildings, although this persecution has lessened recently.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is calling on Obama to raise the issue of religious freedom with President Xi.
The commission also wants him to press for the release of prisoners of conscience.
Large numbers of Christians live in Zhejiang. Churches in Hangzhou have already been closed in advance of the G20 because of alleged security concerns and religious activities in all hospitals have been banned. Underground churches have also been ordered to cease activities.
Obama will be in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, on September 4 and 5. The province has been the focus of a months-long campaign to remove hundreds of crosses from church buildings, although this persecution has lessened recently.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is calling on Obama to raise the issue of religious freedom with President Xi.
The commission also wants him to press for the release of prisoners of conscience.
Thomas Reese, the Jesuit chair of the commission, said: "As the Chinese government aggressively asserts itself on the global stage, at home it aggressively violates the human rights and religious freedom of its citizens.
"While these violations have intensified in Zhejiang Province, the location of the G20 summit, they also are taking place throughout China as the government seeks to repress the voices of individuals and groups advocating for their rights."
Large numbers of Christians live in Zhejiang. Churches in Hangzhou have already been closed in advance of the G20 because of alleged security concerns and religious activities in all hospitals have been banned. Underground churches have also been ordered to cease activities.
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