Hong Kong Watch urges US government to monitor religious freedom in Hong Kong at International Religious Freedom Summit

This week, our Research and Policy Advisor Anouk Wear spoke on a panel titled “The Global Church in the Face of Political Repression”, at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, DC.

During the panel, Ms Wear’s remarks focused on our 2023 report on the state of freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong, Sell Out My Soul: The Impending Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Hong Kong. Ms Wear emphasized the chilling effect of the National Security Law (NSL) on religious believers in Hong Kong, citing widespread self-censorship in sermons and religious activities, as well as growing threats to faith-based schools. She condemned specific instances of repression, including restrictions placed on churches in Hong Kong and the raising of a Chinese flag at a local mosque.

Ms Wear also provided updates to the religious freedom environment in Hong Kong and detailed the increasing introduction of Beijing’s campaign of ‘Sinicization’ of religion. She warned that the enactment of the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will further exacerbate the ongoing crackdown on religious freedom.

Finally, Ms Wear provided recommendations to the US government and greater international community in response to these developments, including:

  • Governments with official envoys dedicated to freedom of religion or belief should report annually on the situation in Hong Kong, following the example set by the US State Department.

  • All 42 member countries of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) should closely monitor and report regularly on developments concerning religious freedom in Hong Kong.

  • The United Kingdom’s Six-Monthly Report on Hong Kong should incorporate assessments of the state of religious freedom.

  • The European Union’s annual report on Hong Kong should include a dedicated section on freedom of religion or belief.

  • The international community should reinforce the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee’s recommendations that the NSL and sedition laws be repealed, and call on authorities to immediately cease their enforcement.

  • The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education should closely examine the deteriorating conditions in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Watch continues to call on the international community to stand firm in defense of religious freedom in Hong Kong, and to ensure that violations are met with accountability and action.

香港監察出席華府「國際宗教自由峰會」 促美國政府監督香港宗教自由

香港監察研究及政策顧問華穆清（Anouk Wear）本週出席在華盛頓舉行的「國際宗教自由峰會」，在主題為「全球教會面對政治打壓的情況」的討論上發言。

討論期間，華穆清集中探討香港監察2023年發表的香港宗教或信仰自由狀況報告《出賣我靈：香港宗教或信仰自由即將面臨的威脅》（Sell Out My Soul: The Impending Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Hong Kong）。她強調了《國家安全法》對香港宗教信徒所造成的寒蟬效應，指出講道及宗教活動自我審查情況普遍，又指信仰學校面對的威脅不斷增加。她譴責了具體打壓事件，包括對香港教會施加限制、在香港清真寺升中國國旗。

華穆清亦匯報了香港宗教自由環境的最新情況，並詳細講解了北京加強推動宗教「中國化」的情況。她警告，2024年生效的《維護國家安全條例》（俗稱「23條」）會進一步加劇對宗教自由的持續打壓。

最後，華穆清就上述事態發展向美國政府及廣大國際社會提出建議。

香港監察繼續呼籲國際社會堅定捍衛香港宗教自由，確保對侵權行為追究責任並採取行動。

NewsMegan Khooevent, Event, US, us