PRESS RELEASE ON EVENT Mr. Shixiong Li, president of CIPRC, is invited by Congressman Frank Wolf

co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus at the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Forum   to discuss the persecution of people of faith in China.

The Human Rights and Religious Freedom Forum will be held 9:45 a.m. to12:45 p.m., March 1, at Ashburn United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive in Ashburn, and will feature leading human rights advocates who will discuss persecution of people of faith in Vietnam, China, Sudan and Egypt, as well as the growing problem of international sex trafficking. Wolf has invited religious leaders from across the 10^th District to attend the forum.

Besides Mr Li, among the others invited are Gao Zhan, the American University fellow who was a recent prisoner of the People’s Republic of China; Doan Viet Hoat, former political prisoner in Vietnam; Nina Shea, commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and director, Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House, and Dr. Laura Lederer, deputy special adviser to the Secretary of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State.

"This forum will provide an opportunity for the local faith community to gather together, and hear from specialists, regarding the continuing tragedy of persecution, imprisonment and even death facing people of faith throughout the world," Wolf said. "We have put together a comprehensive panel, with individuals of different international backgrounds, experiences, and expertise to speak to these critical issues."

"Freedom of worship is among our most precious rights, a right which should be afforded to people of all faith, in every corner of the globe," Wolf added. "I am hopeful that this forum will serve to galvanize the local faith community. 

 

            The forum will be held from 9:45 a.m. -- 12:45 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at Ashburn United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn.  A registration form and directions to the church are attached. Please fax this form to:  202-225-0437

 

            Participating in the forum will be the following human rights experts and their area of expertise.

 

China: 

·        Gao Zhan, American University fellow, recent prisoner in the People's Republic of China

·        Shixiong Li, president of Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China (expert on the House Church in China)

 

Sudan: 

·        Nina Shea, commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and director, Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House

·        Jehan Deng, Sudanese human rights advocate

 

Vietnam: 

·        Joseph Rees, professional staff member, House International Relations Committee

·        Doan Viet Hoat, former political prisoner in Vietnam

 

            Egypt: 

·        Michael Meunier, president, U.S. Copts Association

                                               

                                    Trafficking of Women: 

·        Dr. Laura Lederer, deputy special adviser to the Secretary of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State

 

                                                Congressional Human Rights Caucus: 

·        Brett Dody, former congressional fellow and co-director of Caucus

 

Uganda: 

·        Cathy Norman, director of Spiritual Growth, Ashburn United Methodist Church 

            I 

For more information please contact Congressman's Wolf's  staff member, David Dettoni at 202-225-5136.