On The Front Lines

Denouncing China's Human Rights Abuses, The Rutherford Institute Publishes Photographic Evidence of Chinese Christians Tortured

'Standing Silent as the Blood of Chinese Christians Flows' Commentary Sheds Light on Chinese Torture Techniques & Persecuted Church Abroad


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--Through a series of photos smuggled out of China that depict policemen torturing religious individuals, John W. Whitehead, president and founder of The Rutherford Institute, draws attention to the plight of Chinese Christians. The persecution of religious individuals has been common for more than half a century in China, where people--whose only crime is worshipping God--are routinely burned with cigarettes, beaten with clubs and otherwise martyred for their faith. The series of photographs, which appear courtesy of the Voice of the Martyrs organization, are available online for the first time in conjunction with Whitehead's most recent commentary, titled "Standing Silent as the Blood of Chinese Christians Flows," at www.rutherford.org.

Whitehead paints a vivid picture of the torture and ill-treatment inflicted by the Chinese government on its people, who are routinely terrorized with little to no regard for their rights or living conditions. Although the Chinese Constitution provides the freedom of religious belief to its citizens, that so-called freedom can only be exercised within the walls of the state-approved church. Thus, China's growing house church movement has quickly become the enemy of the Chinese government. However, with U.S. politicians insisting that the United States' ability to impact change in China rests on continued trade relations with the communist state, the U.S. has continued to provide millions of dollars in foreign aid to China, as well as contributing to its increasingly productive exportation of goods both bought and sold by Americans. But as the U.S.-China Security Review Commission's 2002 report to Congress indicates, the U.S. may very well be reinforcing China's anti-democratic practices.

"As a proponent of democracy, the U.S. government cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such atrocities--if not for the sake of human rights, then for American survival," writes Whitehead. "If President Bush is really serious about freeing people from oppressive regimes, China is definitely the next place to start."

The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.

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