Congress Initiative to “Adopt” Prisoners of Conscience

Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois is advocating for the release of poet Zhu Yufu, imprisoned in China three times since 1999.

ZhuYufu ( National Post Illustration by Andrew Barr)
ZhuYufu ( National Post Illustration by Andrew Barr)

His current 7-year sentence that began in 2011 was for “inciting subversion” at least in part for writing and publishing this poem:

The Square belongs to everyone.
With your own two feet
It’s time to head to the Square and make your choice.

It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
A song belongs to everyone.
From your own throat
It’s time to voice the song in your heart.

It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
China belongs to everyone.
Of your own will
It’s time to choose what China shall be.

Hultgren is co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) which launched the Defending Freedoms Project in 2012 to encourage Members of Congress to adopt prisoners of conscience (people incarcerated for peacefully expressing political or religious beliefs).

Congressmen press the State Department and the White House to prioritize the case of their adopted prisoner to win an individual’s release, or at minimum, to improve the conditions of their imprisonment. They publicizing the person’s circumstances through letter writing, congressional floor speeches, op-eds, and by using their prestige and influence to put pressure on the issue in any way they can.

China Prisoners of Conscience Freedom of expression
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