[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1210
                      LIBERATION OF DR. FAN YAFENG

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, once again the Chinese government has 
targeted a human rights proponent for persecution, Dr. Fan Yafeng, head 
of the Christian Human Rights Lawyers of China.
  Dr. Yafeng was granted an interview last October with National Public 
Radio regarding the absence of the Chinese delegation at the Lausanne 
Congress, which is an international gathering of evangelicals.
  The government's response to the interview was systematic 
interrogation, search and seizure, and torture. He is currently under 
house arrest, guarded by police in Beijing and cut off from the outside 
world. Those attempting to contact him through family have also endured 
police brutality.
  I call upon the State Department and our Embassy in Beijing to reach 
out to Dr. Yafeng to verify his condition and apply pressure on the 
Chinese government to ensure his release. The Chinese government's 
continued persecution of human rights advocates, harassment, brutality, 
and house arrest must not be tolerated. I hope that we will stand up 
for Dr. Yafeng and support his peaceful work to bring freedom and 
dignity to the Chinese people.

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