Zhang Shaojie spends his 60th birthday in prison. He was charged with disrupting public order and fraud for practicing his religion. China must release him immediately and without conditions. SenatorTed Budd is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

6 years ago today, Wang Yi, a human rights attorney and Pastor was sentenced to nine years in prison for “inciting to subvert state power”. China must clarify his status & release him immediately. Senator Thom Tillis is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Today, Wang Bingzhang turns 78 in prison. This marks 23 birthdays in detention for his pro-democracy activism. China must release him immediately & without conditions. @schiff.senate.gov is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

11 years ago, Bahraini opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman was arrested. He is serving a life sentence and has been imprisoned for exercising his right to free assembly. Bahrain must release him immediately and without conditions. #DefendingFreedoms

Nine years ago, TV producer Mahmoud Hussein was detained. He was held without charges or a trial for more than four years. Mahmoud was temporarily released on February 6, 2021. Egypt must lift all restrictions immediately and without conditions.

On Saturday, 123 political prisoners in Belarus including Ales Bialiatski & Maria Kolesnikova were released. This is welcome news, but the fight is not over. We must continue pressing for the freedom of all those unjustly detained. @repcohen.bsky.social is their #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Jimmy Lai has been found guilty on bogus national security charges. This decision is a travesty of justice & reflects a serious assault on freedom of the press in Hong Kong. He should be released immediately and without conditions. @raskin.house.gov is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

4 years ago, journalist & prominent dissident Pham Doan Trang was sentenced to 9 years in prison for the charge of spreading "anti-government propaganda." Vietnam must release her immediately & without conditions. @RepRoKhanna is her #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Today is the 66th birthday of Khalil Maatouk, a Syrian human rights lawyer who defended multiple activists before being disappeared. Syria must clarify his status & release him immediately. @SenTedBuddNC is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Mahmoud Hussein, a producer of Al Jazeera, celebrates his 59th birthday today. He was unjustly detained and spent 5 years in prison without formal charges. Mahmoud was temporarily released on February 6, 2021. Egypt must lift all restrictions immediately and without conditions.

Today we celebrate UN Human Rights Day. The UDHR was adopted on this day in 1948, & 77 years later its principles are more relevant than ever. Human rights are the everyday freedoms that enrich our lives and are a common ground that unites us across all identities.

On this day of commemoration, we honor all the lives taken by genocide and the communities forever changed. Their stories compel us to strengthen early warning and prevention efforts. www.un.org/en/observanc...

Today marks 7 years since the arrest of Wang Yi in China for “inciting subversion of state power.” He founded one of the most prominent unregistered churches in the country. China must clarify his status & release him immediately. @SenThomTillis is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate

Corruption and poor human rights practices go hand in hand. On International Anti-Corruption Day, we highlight that transparency and accountability are essential to protecting human rights and strengthening democratic institutions.

37 years ago, Ardeshir Fanaian was born in Semnan prison. He has been held in that same prison for over 5 years on charges related to his #Bahai religious identity. Iran must release him immediately & without conditions. @janschakowsky is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Today is the 59th birthday of Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, a dissident blogger conditionally released to house arrest in 2024 following 16 years of imprisonment. Vietnam must lift all restrictions on his release. @lofgren.house.gov is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

On International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, we acknowledge the essential work carried out by women who risk their lives to promote and protect human rights in their communities. Their efforts continue to strengthen justice, dignity, and equality for everyone.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we recognize the ongoing impact of violence on women and girls worldwide. Today serves as a reminder of the importance of prevention and ensuring that everyone can live free from harm. www.un.org/en/observanc...

Today marks 3 years since Fariba Kamalabadi & Mahvash Sabet were sentenced to 10 years in prison for religious activities. Iran must release them immediately & without conditions. @repbonamici.bsky.social & Rep. Schakowsky are their respective #DefendingFreedoms advocates.

On the 12th anniversary of the Euromaidan protests, we remember the beginning of the “Revolution of Dignity” - demonstrations that defended Ukraine’s relationship with Europe. Patriotic Ukrainians defend that today as in 2013. #Euromaidan.

Today, Alaa Abd El-Fattah turns 44 as a free man, following the presidential pardon he received in September. Yet he is still being denied permission to travel to the UK to see his son. Egypt must lift all restrictions on his release. #DefendingFreedoms

Dong Yuyu remains unjustly incarcerated after the Beijing High Court rejected his appeal. Dong is a journalist who has been given a 7-year sentence on a politically motivated charge. PRC authorities should release him and respect the internationally recognized right of freedom of the press.

The Democratic staff of the TLHRC are accepting applications for the winter term (Jan-April) under the newly-established Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program (deadline Nov 6). For application information see: humanrightscommission.house.gov/about/intern...

The PRC's crackdown on Zion Church, an underground house church in multiple cities across China, is a horrible violation of religious freedom. Authorities should release Pastor Ezra Jin and dozens of others and let them freely practice their faith without fear of retribution.

The Democratic staff of the TLHRC are now accepting applications for the winter term (Jan-April) under the newly-established Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Internship Program (deadline Nov 6). For application information see: humanrightscommission.house.gov/about/intern...

Dilnur Reyhan is a French-Uyghur scholar and activist. She is being prosecuted in France for exercising her freedom of expression. People in France should be able to freely protest China’s abuse of the Uyghur people. French authorities should drop the charges against her.

13 years ago, Khalil Maatouk, a Syrian human rights lawyer disappeared on his way to work. He has not been seen since 2013. At the time of his disappearance, his health was in poor condition. Senator Ted Budd is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

#InternationalDayOfOlderPersons reminds us that the ability to exercise human rights do not diminish with age. We honor the wisdom & contributions of older persons. Protecting their rights means ensuring dignity, care & inclusion for every generation.

10 years ago yesterday, Buzurgmehr Yorov was arrested without just cause after representing political opposition in court. He is serving a 28-year prison sentence. Tajikistan must release him immediately & without conditions. #DefendingFreedoms

Today, Ales Bialiatski celebrates his 63rd birthday in a Belarusian prison. He is serving a 10-year sentence on politically motivated charges for his work on human rights. Belarus must release him immediately & unconditionally. @repcohen.bsky.social is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

In 2008, Congress passed the authorizing resolution for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, strengthening bipartisan efforts to defend human rights. Today, we continue that mandate by educating Congress & the public and advocating for those whose rights are under threat.

11 years ago today, economist and Uyghur rights defender Ilham Tohti was sentenced to life in prison for promoting cultural understanding between Uyghurs & Han Chinese. China must release him immediately & unconditionally. @amo.house.gov is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Today marks 24 years since the arrest of Dawit Isaak in Eritrea for his journalism. He is the world’s longest-imprisoned journalist, held incommunicado without charges. Eritrea must immediately and unconditionally clarify his status and release him. #DefendingFreedoms

Today, Dr. Hatoon al-Fassi celebrates her birthday. Detained in 2018 for her women’s rights activism in Saudi Arabia, she remains at risk of imprisonment despite her temporary release. Saudi authorities must drop all charges against her immediately and without conditions.

5 years ago today, Crimean Tatar activist Timur Ibragimov was sentenced to 17 years in prison on fabricated charges. Detained for reporting on raids and trials in Crimea, his health is deteriorating in Russian custody. He must be released immediately & without conditions.

On #DemocracyDay, we affirm that democracy & human rights are inseparable. Protecting freedoms of expression, participation & equality is essential to ensure every voice is heard. Human rights are the foundation on which lasting democracies are built. www.un.org/en/observanc...

Democracy advocate Gubad Ibadoghlu celebrates his 54th birthday today under house arrest in Azerbaijan. Despite serious health concerns & international calls for his release, he remains unjustly held. We call on Azerbaijan to release him immediately and without conditions.

On September 9th, a court in Baku unjustly denied the appeal of @rferl.org.web.brid.gy journalist Farid Mehralizada, who faces a nine-year prison sentence. We strongly condemn this decision and call for his immediate and unconditional release.

Materials from the hearing “Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications” along with a recording of the hearing, are now available on our website: humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

TODAY: Please join us today, Tuesday, September 9 at 2:00 pm EST for a hearing on Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs. humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9 at 2:00 pm EST for a hearing on Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs. humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza celebrated his 44th birthday today. Once jailed for denouncing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he was freed in a prisoner swap in August 2024. Reporting is not a crime—We must protect journalists everywhere.

Today marks the anniversary of the 2021 arrests of Nariman Celal & Asan Akhtemov. Nariman is now Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey, but Asan remains imprisoned on politically motivated charges. Russia must release him immediately and unconditionally. #CrimeaTatars #DefendingFreedoms

Please join us Tuesday, September 9 at 2:00 pm EST for a hearing on Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs. humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Osman Arifmemetov turns 40 today. He is serving a 14-year prison sentence on politically motivated terrorism charges for reporting on Russia’s rights violations in occupied Crimea. Russia must release him immediately and unconditionally. #DefendingFreedoms

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the attacks on the Rohingya in Burma. Genocidal violence left thousands dead and more than 700,000 displaced. The crisis continues and urgent funding & support are needed to protect and assist affected communities. news.un.org/en/focus/roh...

On #WorldHumanitarianDay, we honor those who risk their lives to save others. We must #ActForHumanity to protect aid workers, uphold international law, and ensure lifesaving assistance reaches those who need it most. www.un.org/en/observanc...

Twelve years ago, Shawkan was unjustly arrested. After serving his full sentence, he was released—only to face harsh probation, forced to report to a police station daily from 6 PM to 6 AM. No journalist should be punished for doing their job. #PressFreedom

92-year-old #Bahai leader, Jamaloddin Khanjani, and his daughter Maria were arrested on August 13, 2023 for reasons unknown. Mr. Khanjani was previously imprisoned for his leadership role from 2008-2018. Iran must release them immediately & without conditions. #DefendingFreedoms

Gao Zhisheng is an award-winning human rights lawyer who disappeared in 2017. He is known for his work representing high profile cases related to religious freedom in court. China must clarify his status & release him immediately & without conditions. #DefendingFreedoms