Chinese Religious Leaders and Human Rights Experts on US Religious Freedom Report

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued its 2003 annual report on May 13, uttering irresponsible criticisms of religious affairs of many countries, including China, and listed China among the 'countries of particular concerns.' This has aroused strong protests from Chinese religious leaders. On May 22, the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the China Religious Research Center held a forum in Beijing. The participating religious leaders and human rights experts gave the lie to the US report. Published below are the excerpts of the speeches by some religious leaders and human rights experts:

Oppose Religious Extremism and Guarantee Human Rights

For today＇s human rights protection, it is requisite to firmly oppose religious ex- tremism, no matter whether in China or worldwide. Religious extremism is a rather serious phenomenon in the political life of today＇s world. In the form of religion （including banners, words, symbols and costumes, etc）, it agitates for the extreme claims and fanatical behavior of certain groups and damages social stability, so that it can serve its villainous purposes.

Human Rights Diplomacy with Mysterious Glow of Religion——On the US International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the US Human Rights Diplomacy

International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 In October 1998, the Clinton Administration produced the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). It is one of the important laws passed by the US Congress in recent years. The act is very complicated. The main sections can be summarized as follows: (1) Appointment of an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to head an Office on International Religious Freedom within the Department of State;