This week marks 3 years since Zhou Deyong was detained & 2 years since he was sentenced to 8 years in prison as a result of his family's Falun Gong affiliation.
#China must release him immediately & without conditions.
Gus Bilirakis #DefendingFreedoms
humanrightscommission.house.gov/defending-free…

April 21 was Narges Mohammadi's 52nd birthday. The The Nobel Prize laureate is sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison for her human rights advocacy. #Iran must #FreeNarges immediately & without conditions.
Rep. Nancy Mace is her #DefendingFreedoms advocate.
humanrightscommission.house.gov/defending-free…

Yesterday was journalist Ruslan Suleymanov's 39th birthday, his 5th spent in prison. He is serving 14 years in prison for his rights work in #Crimea . #Russia must release him immediately & without conditions.
Senator Bob Menendez #DefendingFreedoms
humanrightscommission.house.gov/defending-free…

Saturday was acclaimed human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng's 60th birthday. He was taken by authorities while under house arrest in 2017. His status & health are of great concern. #China must release him immediately & without conditions.
#DefendingFreedoms
humanrightscommission.house.gov/defending-free…

Yesterday marked 1 year since Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his pro-democracy leadership & activism. Last week marked his 2nd year in prison. #Russia must #FreeKaraMurza immediately & without conditions.
#DefendingFreedoms advocates Steve Cohen Congressman Bill Keating

One decade ago, human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair was arrested for his activism. He is serving 15 years in prison & faces a 15 year travel ban upon release. #SaudiArabia must release him immediately & without conditions.
Rep. Ro Khanna is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

Wednesday was former Member of Parliament Selahattin Demirtaş' 51st birthday. He has been detained since 2016 despite multiple ECHR CEDH rulings calling for his release. #Turkey must release him immediately & without conditions.
Rep. Jamie Raskin is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

TUESDAY, April 16: Join us for a hearing on Human Rights in Turkey Today on Tuesday April 16 at 10:00 a.m.
humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/hearing…

On the one-year anniversary of Ding Jiaxi’s wrongful sentence, we honor his courage.

The courage to put his life at risk – and stand up for transparency in the face of the repressive CCP.

The courage to believe in democracy and human rights – even when both require dangerous…

1000 days ago, activist & scholar Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace began a liquids-only hunger strike after authorities confiscated a manuscript he had been writing in prison.
#Bahrain must #FreeAlSingace immediately & without conditions.
Rep. Ro Khanna is his #DefendingFreedoms advocate.

5 years ago, journalists Osman Arifmemetov, Ruslan Suleymanov, & Rustem Sheykhaliev were arrested while reporting on rights violations in #Crimea . Each is serving 14 years in prison.
#Russia must release them immediately & without conditions.
Senator Bob Menendez #DefendingFreedoms