Rep. Schiff Releases Statement on First Anniversary of Ding Jiaxi’s Wrongful Imprisonment in China
Washington, D.C.— Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the wrongful imprisonment of Ding Jiaxi, a political prisoner in China who was sentenced to 12 years for “subversion of state power”. Schiff is a Commissioner on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and serves as an advocate for Ding Jiaxi under the Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project.
“On the one-year anniversary of Ding Jiaxi’s wrongful imprisonment, we honor his relentless fight for freedom even in the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal oppression. Supporting courageous individuals like Ding Jiaxi, who champion human rights and freedoms in the face of political violence from authoritarian regimes, is not just our moral duty—it’s a reflection of our unwavering commitment to these ideals globally,” said Rep. Schiff.
“His work in China, and that of his colleague and fellow prisoner Xu Zhiyong, defended the human rights of those who were vulnerable. I am honored to stand in solidarity with Ding Jiaxi’s pursuit of civil liberties and government accountability. I am committed to advocating for his release and reunion with his family,” concluded Schiff.
Schiff has been a long-time advocate for people across the world who are facing political persecution. In November, Schiff introduced a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians currently detained in the years-long attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh. Last year, Schiff also re-introduced legislation to bolster the prosecution and oversight of transnational repression – efforts by foreign governments to harass, intimidate, or harm individuals beyond their own borders, including in the United States, in order to silence or coerce persons who oppose or are critical of a government. In 2022, Schiff also introduced the Support for Iranian Political Prisoners Act, legislation demanding Iran end its human rights violations and immediately release all arbitrarily detained individuals – including peaceful protestors, political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience.
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