Official account for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, U.S. House of Representatives. Co-Chairs @RepMcGovern (D-MA) & Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Washington D.C.
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On this day in 2009, Tibetan writer Kunchok Tsephel was sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly disclosing state secrets. Released under restrictions in 2022, he is still not fully free. China must lift these restrictions. @RepRaskin is his Defending Freedoms advocate.
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On this day in 2016, Ukrainian journalist Oleksiy Bessarabov was arrested by Russian authorities in occupied Crimea. He is serving a 14-year sentence on politically motivated charges. Russia must release him.
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Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 more years in prison on baseless national security charges. This deeply troubling sentence punishes peaceful advocacy. Hong Kong authorities must release Wong immediately and unconditionally.
Activist Joshua Wong, 30, who became the international face of Hong Kong's democracy movement, was sentenced to 10 years in jail on a charge of collusion with foreign entities under the city's national security law reut.rs/4815nHH
On October 12 imprisoned Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu was forced to resume prison labor just weeks after lung cancer surgery. Family members report that Dong's health has since deteriorated. China must halt his compulsory labor and release Dong immediately on humanitarian grounds
Today marks the 40th birthday of Crimean Tatar citizen journalist Seyran Saliev, imprisoned by Russia since 2017 for his reporting and activism in occupied Crimea. He is serving a 15-year prison sentence. Russia must release him.
10 years ago today, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş was arrested in Turkey. He remains in prison despite rulings by the European Court of Human Rights calling for his release. Turkey must free him. @RepRaskin is his Defending Freedoms advocate.
Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. Around the world, journalists face threats, arbitrary detention, and violence for reporting the truth. Attacks on the press must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.
Today is the International Day of Political Prisoners. Peaceful expression and human rights advocacy are not crimes. Those imprisoned for exercising these rights must be released immediately and without conditions.
Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman turns 61 today. Detained since 2014, he is serving a life sentence. Bahrain must release him immediately and unconditionally.
Eritrean-Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak turns 62 today. He has been detained in Eritrea without formal charge or trial since 2001, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Eritrea must release him immediately and unconditionally.
28 years ago today, the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 was signed into law, strengthening U.S. efforts to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief around the world. This fundamental right belongs to everyone.
Crimean Tatar citizen journalist Amet Suleimanov turns 42 today. He is serving a 12-year sentence in Russia and suffers from serious heart problems that require surgery. Russia must release him and ensure he receives urgently needed medical care.
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Uyghur economist and scholar Ilham Tohti turns 57 today. He is serving a life sentence in China after being convicted of “separatism” in 2014. China must release him. @RepGabeAmo is his Defending Freedoms advocate.
Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor turns 57 today. Detained since 2017, he is serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges tied to his human rights advocacy. The UAE must release him immediately and unconditionally.
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission retweeted
Please join us for a virtual briefing on "One Year After the Fall of El-Fasher: How Transnational Networks Finance Crimes in Sudan" on Wednesday, October 21, at 2:00 p.m. EST.
humanrightscommission.house.…
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Poverty undermines human dignity and the enjoyment of fundamental rights. Ending poverty requires protecting the rights and voices of people living in poverty and ensuring no one is left behind.
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Please join us for a virtual briefing on "One Year After the Fall of El-Fasher: How Transnational Networks Finance Crimes in Sudan" on Wednesday, October 21, at 2:00 p.m. EST.
humanrightscommission.house.…
Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro‑democracy activist and former student leader, has been inducted into the Defending Freedoms Project.
He has been imprisoned since 2020 on protest‑related and national security charges, most recently receiving a four‑year‑eight‑month sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion in 2024. @RepMoolenaar is his Defending Freedoms advocate.
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