01. May 2009
US commission condemns religious repression in Tibet
(ICT; USCIRF; Xinhua) The United States Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF), founded in 1998, released its annual report and, amid numerous other concerns about religious freedom in the People's Republic of China (PRC), noted: "In Tibetan Buddhist areas, religious freedom conditions may be worse now than at any time since the Commission's inception". The report said: "Chinese government actions and policies to suppress peaceful religious activity in Tibetan areas played a primary role in stoking last year's demonstrations there". The report also recommends that China be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its sustained and egregious violations of religious freedoms. Beijing responded by saying the report was "biased" and "groundless". "It is a fact that the Chinese government protects its citizens' freedom of religious belief according to law, and every ethnic group in any part of China enjoys full religious freedom", Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement.