Washington - January 11 ANI Expressing solidarity with the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Chinese sanctions on four USCIRF officials are another affront to universal rights.
The People's Republic of China's PRC sanctioned four US Commission on International Religious Freedom commissioners last month, including Chair Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair Nury Turkel, and Commissioners Anurima Bhargava and James W. Carr.
The Secretary of State stated that Washington remains undeterred by these actions and stands in solidarity with USCIRF and its staff.
The PRC has previously sanctioned three other current and former USCIRF commissioners, in addition to dozens of current or former U.S. officials and organizations that promote democracy and respect for human rights around the world, all of which are without merit. We remain unaffected by these actions, and we stand in solidarity with USCIRF and its staff. Blinken said that the United States is committed to defending human rights around the world and will continue to use all diplomatic and economic tools to promote accountability.
He said that Beijing's continued attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights only contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.
The United States calls for the PRC to stop its acts of transnational repression, including coercive practices of imprisoning and denying the freedom of movement to family members of Uyghur American activists, including individuals serving the American people. The Secretary of State said these acts undermine the international rules-based order.