In my work for No Business With Genocide (NBWG), the cause of religious freedom is often front and center. According to the U.S. State Department, about 80 percent of the world’s population cannot openly practice their religion without the threat of persecution. Here are some of the areas where NBWG works:
The Rohingya of Myanmar
The Rohingya genocide refers to the systematic persecution and violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority by the Myanmar military and local Buddhist extremists. This crisis has been marked by widespread atrocities, including mass killings, rapes, and the destruction of villages, leading to a significant humanitarian disaster.
Historical Context:
- The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, have lived in Myanmar’s Rakhine State for generations but have faced longstanding discrimination and statelessness.
- The 1982 Citizenship Law in Myanmar effectively rendered the Rohingya stateless, denying them citizenship and basic rights.
Escalation of Violence:
- On February 1, 2021, the military took over the democratically elected government and has killed and jailed thousands of innocent citizens. The situation for the Rohingya was made much worse by this.
- In August 2017, a severe crackdown by the Myanmar military, known as “clearance operations,” led to the mass displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh.
- Reports from various human rights organizations and the United Nations detail systematic acts of violence, including killings, sexual violence, and arson.
What can be done?
Tell your Members of Congress to support the Rohingya Genocide, Accountability, and Protection Act (H.R.8936)
U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) have introduced the Rohingya Genocide, Accountability, and Protection Act, or Rohingya GAP Act (H.R.8936).
The bill provides protection, support, and humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced people. It also promotes accountability and a path out of genocide and crimes against humanity for the Rohingya.
Tell your Members of Congress to pass the BRAVE Burma Act
The Myanmar military seized power on February 1, 2021. To resist this military coup, people across Myanmar have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and taken up arms in a new People’s Defense Force. The Burmese people deserve our support in their struggle.
Our champions in Congress have introduced the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863). The bill puts strong Congressional pressure on the U.S. Administration to take action to deprive the Myanmar military of the money, weapons, aviation fuel, and legitimacy that it needs to stay in power.
Introduced by Reps. Bill Huizenga (R, MI-4), Betty McCollum (D, MN-4), Ann Wagner (R, MO-2), and Brad Sherman (D, CA-32), the “Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in Burma Act,” or BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863), would press the U.S. Administration to sanction:
- Burmese state-owned enterprises, such as Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)
- Myanma Economic Bank (MEB)
- Any foreign persons or companies involved in the jet fuel sector of the Burmese economy
It would also create a U.S. Special Coordinator for Burmese Democracy within the State Department to develop and help implement a comprehensive U.S. strategy to promote human rights and the restoration of civilian government in Burma.
The Uyghurs in China
- Historical Context:
- The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group primarily residing in Xinjiang, with a distinct culture, language, and religion (Islam).
- Tensions between Uyghurs and the Chinese government have existed for decades, often centered around issues of autonomy, cultural preservation, and economic marginalization.
Escalation of Repression:
- Since 2017, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
- Reports indicate the existence of “re-education camps,” where an estimated one million or more Uyghurs are detained without trial. These camps aim to indoctrinate detainees with Chinese Communist Party ideology and force them to renounce their religious and cultural practices.
- There are credible accounts of torture, forced labor, forced sterilization, organ harvesting, and sexual abuse within these camps.
Surveillance and Control:
- Xinjiang is one of the most heavily surveilled regions in the world. The Chinese government employs advanced technologies, including facial recognition, biometric data collection, and extensive police monitoring, to control the Uyghur population.
- The Chinese authorities have implemented policies that severely restrict religious practices, cultural expressions, and even the use of the Uyghur language.
What can be done:
Ask your Senators and Congressperson to Support the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act.
As you know, millions of Uyghurs have been placed in camps where they have been subjected to forced labor, torture, and organ harvestation. The United States Congress needs to do more.
In April 2024, Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act (UGASA, H.R. 8124). Similar to the Senate bill, this bill expands sanctions. The Smith-Suozzi bill (HR 8124) strengthens provisions in the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020. It expands existing sanctions and other measures to make sure Chinese officials are held accountable for their horrific human rights atrocities against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
Congressmen Smith and Suozzi recently created the Congressional Uyghur Caucus to encourage more action and education for and about the Uyghur genocide in China.
In 2023, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Senate version of the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act (UGASA, S. 1770). This important bill expands sanctions and travel restrictions for the Chinese officials who are directly responsible for the genocide. It goes beyond that and also authorizes the U.S. State Department and Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist victims of the genocide and gives them the authority to produce and broadcast counter-programming to the Chinese propaganda, document human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and promote the linguistic and cultural heritage that has been suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Additionally, it requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to be made aware of any organizations or companies that support the Uyghur genocide.
If the United States is going to be a beacon for democracy and freedom, passing these bills should be a no-brainer.