by Chris Herlinger, Ecumenical News International
[1-17-03]

NEW YORK - January 17, 2003 - Echoing concerns by some U.S. religious organizations, a prominent New York-based human rights group has criticized the United States government for its war against terrorism, saying the Bush administration "has refused to be bound by human rights standards."

In its annual report on international human rights globally, Human Rights Watch said that while the U.S. government was not among the worst human rights offenders, its "willingness to compromise human rights to fight terrorism sets a dangerous precedent," particularly because of its unique leadership role.

The report, released on Jan. 14, criticized the United States for refusing to raise issues of repression in countries such as China, which Human Rights Watch said were using the fight against terrorism "to cloak or intensify repression" against dissident or nationalist movements and in some cases religious groups.

In its report on China, Human Rights Watch paid particular attention to religious persecution in that country, noting that President Jiang Zemin had, at the end of 2001, said that "current international and domestic conditions" prompted the strengthening of the national government's "control over religion."

Among the problems in China cited by Human Rights Watch were continued crackdowns on Mentuhui, a Christian group also known by the name Society of Disciples, and on the Falungong organization, which combine Buddhist and Taoist beliefs. Roman Catholics also faced persecution, with 53 Roman Catholic bishops and priests either in police custody or under surveillance early in the year and three priests receiving prison terms on charges of "disturbing the social order."

Muslims in the north-west province of Xinjiang also faced persecution, which Chinese authorities justified under the aegis of anti-terrorism measures. Human Rights Watch said the Bush administration had downplayed the Chinese government's actions -- a pattern it said was dangerous.

"An anti-terrorism policy that ignores human rights is a gift to the terrorists," Human Rights Watch said about overall U.S. policy and the way it was affecting the actions of governments elsewhere. "It reaffirms the violent instrumentalism that breeds terrorism as it undermines the public support needed to defeat terrorism."

A number of U.S. religious ecumenical groups and denominations -- including the National Council of Churches, the nation's largest ecumenical agency -- have raised similar concerns since the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the United States that precipitated the U.S.-led "war on terror."