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Uyghur educators face prison, death in China

For Uyghurs, using their native language can mean a death sentence. People’s Republic of China authorities are sentencing Uyghur Muslim educators who publish textbooks in their native language to life in prison and even death. A PRC court on April 6 announced the death sentence against Sattar Sawut , former director general of the education department in Xinjiang, for publishing ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 4 May, 2021 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, cultural preservation, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, Uyghurs

U.S. calls on the Kremlin to end crackdown on press freedom

By Leigh Hartman Russian authorities raided student magazine Doxa on April 14, arresting four editors and ransacking their homes. The students’ alleged crime? Reporting on university administrators’ attempts to intimidate students protesting in support of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny. The students’ arrest is the latest in the Kremlin’s ongoing crackdown on free and independent media ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 22 April, 2021 | Topics: Human Rights, News | Tags: civil society, freedom of expression, press freedom, Russia

China targets Uyghurs with sham trials, long sentences

The People’s Republic of China is stepping up baseless prosecutions of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, sentencing innocent people to years in prison, a new report says. In a February 24 report, Human Rights Watch says that the PRC’s judicial system in Xinjiang has sentenced 250,000 Uyghur and other ethnic minorities to prison, and that ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 15 March, 2021 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, Uyghurs

Freedom of speech is not just about words [video]

The freedom to share ideas is so important to American democracy that protections for free speech , enshrined in the U.S. Constitution , also extend to other forms of peaceful expression. Watch this video to learn the many ways Americans can express themselves without government reprisal.

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 16 February, 2021 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News, Video | Tags: freedom of expression, IIP Videos

Pompeo urges U.S. colleges to defend academic freedom

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo is urging American universities to defend against the Chinese Communist Party’s research theft and other threats to academic freedom. Speaking at Georgia Tech in Atlanta on December 9, Pompeo warned that the CCP’s theft of research to boost its military poses risks for both universities and U.S. national security . He asked administrators, faculty and students ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 14 December, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, News from Washington | Tags: China, freedom of expression, international security, Secretary Pompeo

Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela strike out against free speech

Free speech for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans is under attack by their respective governments. “Freedom of expression is a human right,” Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said on Twitter on November 24. “The United States stands with Cuba’s people.” In Cuba , the Castro regime arrested musician Denis Solís González on November 9 and sentenced him to eight months in prison ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 9 December, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: Cuba, freedom of expression, Nicaragua, press freedom, venezuela

Promoting human rights is essential to U.S. policy

In the 80 years since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his Four Freedoms speech — citing freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear — the United States has made these democratic principles central to its foreign policy. Today, the United States continues to champion human rights as a critical component of U.S. ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 8 December, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, Key Officials, News | Tags: China, civil society, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, press freedom

Rights groups call for independent investigation of Iran’s atrocities

Human rights advocates continue to expose the Iranian regime’s violent response to nationwide protests in November 2019 despite the regime’s attempts to cover up the details. More than a year later, the United States and human rights organizations are still calling for an independent investigation into the brutal crackdown. Justice for Iran, a human rights ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 3 December, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, Iran, technology

Democracies condemn Beijing’s continued crackdown in Hong Kong

By Leigh Hartman Democratic nations are faulting the Chinese Communist Party’s disqualification of four democratically elected legislators in Hong Kong. The governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom call the CCP’s November 11 disqualification of the lawmakers a “clear breach” of the regime’s international obligations and commitment to uphold Hong Kong’s ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 3 December, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, corruption, freedom of expression, press freedom

U.S. universities move to protect students from China’s authoritarian reach

An assistant professor at Princeton University lets students use code names to shield their identities when discussing topics deemed controversial by the Chinese Communist Party. He’s not alone, says the Wall Street Journal. Why is this happening? Code names are one step U.S. universities are taking to protect foreign students from the authoritarian reach of the ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 7 October, 2020 | Topics: Education, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, freedom of expression, international security

Maduro targets journalists and doctors, new report says

The illegitimate Maduro regime has used the COVID-19 pandemic to crack down on anyone who doesn’t comply with Maduro, a Human Rights Watch report says. Since mid-March, “Venezuelan authorities have arbitrarily detained and prosecuted dozens of journalists, health care workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents who criticize the government of Nicolás Maduro,” according to HRW . The organization ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 6 October, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: civil society, corruption, freedom of expression, venezuela

China’s pattern of human rights abuse continues

Zhang Jialong, a former journalist and anti-censorship activist, faced trial in China in May after criticizing the Chinese government on Twitter. Chinese authorities reportedly charged Zhang with “ picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” He is just the latest victim of the Chinese Communist Party’s continued detention of reporters, lawyers and human rights activists as part of the ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 21 September, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, civil society, freedom of expression, press freedom

Report: Iran’s regime answers protests with ‘torture epidemic’

Iran’s regime arbitrarily arrested thousands of protesters following nationwide demonstrations in November 2019, torturing dozens and sentencing several to death, a new report says. Amnesty International, in a report issued September 2 , says the Iranian regime prosecuted more than 500 protesters on sham charges and describes a “torture epidemic,” including flogging, electric shocks and mock executions. “The Iranian authorities ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 21 September, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: corruption, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, Iran

Who gets to use messaging apps in Iran?

Iranian lawmakers have proposed banning all foreign-owned social messaging apps and replacing them with domestic versions run by the regime. Dozens of lawmakers have signed the August 24 proposal to create a committee to license and monitor domestic social networking sites and impose punishments of up to two years in prison for violating the new ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 17 September, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, News | Tags: freedom of expression, Iran, technology

Cuba’s ‘outrageous’ bid to join the U.N. Human Rights Council

In spite of its dismal record on human rights, Cuba’s government is seeking a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2021–2023 term. “It’s outrageous that the Human Rights Council would offer to seat Cuba, a brutal dictatorship that traffics its own doctors under the guise of humanitarian missions,” Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said on August ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 1 September, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: civic equality, Cuba, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, press freedom, United Nations

Confucius Institutes advance Chinese propaganda on campuses

The People’s Republic of China must now reveal more about its role in supporting Confucius Institutes’ activities on U.S. college campuses, which include propaganda and censorship. The U.S. Department of State on August 13 designated the Washington-based headquarters of the Confucius Institute network a foreign mission of the PRC. Under the designation , the Confucius Institute U.S. Center ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 27 August, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, News, News from Washington | Tags: China, freedom of expression, international security, Secretary Pompeo

U.S. sanctions leaders of China’s Hong Kong crackdown

The United States has imposed sanctions against Chinese Communist Party officials for their role in the crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms. The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued sanctions August 7 that target Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other senior officials, including several who helped develop or implement the Hong Kong National Security Law passed ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 17 August, 2020 | Topics: News, News from Washington | Tags: China, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression

China’s economic blitzkrieg (July 20)

China’s economic blitzkrieg (July 20) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploited global business norms to drive its economic rise. Now the CCP is using its economic power to gain leverage over nations and businesses and limit freedoms around the world. In July 16 remarks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. Attorney General William Barr detailed how the CCP is ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 20 July, 2020 | Topics: Business, Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Key Officials, News | Tags: 5G, China, freedom of expression, intellectual property rights, international security, Trade

Authoritarian regimes’ unclear laws make anyone a suspect (July 16)

Authoritarian regimes’ unclear laws make anyone a suspect (July 16) For laws to be just, they must be clear. Citizens must know what is — and is not — against the law. Precise language helps ensure that laws are enforced fairly. But some countries take advantage of their unclear laws. The Chinese government regularly ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 16 July, 2020 | Topics: History, Human Rights, News | Tags: China, freedom of expression, Iran, policing

Chinese media: Press or propagandists? (July 7)

Chinese media: Press or propagandists? (July 7) Chinese state-run news organizations would like the world to think that they are independent and trustworthy. They are not. Many of these outlets work to spread Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda around the world, and their employees effectively work for the Chinese Communist Party. That was the conclusion of Secretary of State ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 7 July, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, News | Tags: China, freedom of expression, press freedom

Report: CCP conducts mass sterilization of minority women (July 6)

Report: CCP conducts mass sterilization of minority women (July 6) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is conducting a campaign of mass sterilization of women as part of its repression of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, a new report says. Using Chinese government documents and interviews with survivors, the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 6 July, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, News, News from Washington | Tags: China, cultural preservation, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, Uyghurs

America’s free press offers diverse views on protests (June 29)

America’s free press offers diverse views on protests (June 29) The right to a free press is one of America’s most cherished liberties, fostering a wide-ranging discussion among citizens. When demonstrators in U.S. cities protested the May 25 death of George Floyd and other instances of police officers’ use of excessive force, America’s editors ...

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 29 June, 2020 | Topics: News | Tags: civic equality, civil society, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, press freedom

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