A resolution expressing condemnation of the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of religious minority groups, including Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists and the detention of Pastor "Ezra" Jin Mingri and leaders of the Zion Church, and reaffirming the United States' global commitment to promote religious freedom and tolerance.
## Summary This Senate resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of religious minority groups, including Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists, and calls for the immediate release of Pastor “Ezra” Jin Mingri and leaders of Beijing’s Zion Church, who were detained in a recent nationwide crackdown. It highlights the CCP’s systematic suppression of religious freedom through measures like forced “Sinicization” of religion, destruction of religious symbols, and arbitrary imprisonment. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to promoting global religious freedom under laws like the International Religious Freedom Act (1998) and the Frank R. Wolf Act (2016), which prioritize diplomatic and economic tools to address human rights abuses. While non-binding, it signals strong congressional opposition to China’s policies and urges the U.S. government to leverage mechanisms like the Global Magnitsky Act to impose sanctions on those responsible. ## Key Points - Condemnation of CCP Actions: Explicitly denounces the persecution of religious minorities, including the October 2025 detentions of Pastor Jin and Zion Church members. - Reaffirmation of U.S. Policy: Restates U.S. support for global religious freedom under existing laws (International Religious Freedom Act, Frank R. Wolf Act). - Call for Release: Urges China to free Pastor Jin and all religious leaders wrongfully detained. - Demand for Compliance: Requires China to uphold international human rights standards, including ending violence and discrimination against religious groups. - Historical Context: Notes China’s repeated designation as a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom violations since 1999. ## Impact Areas - Primary Group Affected: Religious minorities in China (Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Hui Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists) facing state repression. - Secondary Group Affected: U.S.-China diplomatic and economic relations, as the resolution pressures the U.S. to take a firmer stance against CCP policies. - Additional Impacts: Reinforces the use of U.S. foreign policy tools like the Global Magnitsky Act to target human rights violators and elevates religious freedom as a priority in international advocacy. *Note: Resolutions like this do not become law but guide U.S. policy and messaging. The Global Magnitsky Act allows sanctions on individuals committing human rights abuses, while the International Religious Freedom Act mandates annual reporting and diplomatic engagement on religious persecution.*