China’s human rights record has been under the spotlight in the run-up to and during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. While the media have been describing this Olympics as China’s big moment to impress the world with the creativity and magnanimity of its people, there have also been reports that persecution of minority groups, including Christians, has actually increased in the months before the Games. Chinese authorities have been cracking down on critics who would wish to use this opportunity to tell the rest of the world, while eyes and ears are upon them, about human rights abuses in China.

World leaders have been challenging China to improve its human rights record, both nationally and internationally (particularly regarding its involvement in Sudan and complacency towards Darfur). On Sunday 10 August President Bush attended a state-sanctioned church service and afterwards called for religious freedom. He said: “No state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.”

Meanwhile, news reports say an underground church pastor who was on his way to the very same service was detained and arrested by security agents. A few days before the opening ceremonies, a Christian pastor was arrested to keep him from meeting with BBC journalist John Simpson. (Please see sidebar for video coverage.) These are but a couple of recent examples of a crackdown by the Chinese authorities in light of the Olympics.

For more information on human rights and religious freedom in China, please read a June 2008 report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide entitled China: Persecution of Protestant Christians in the Approach to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Also see Amnesty International’s recent report, People’s Republic of China: The Olympics countdown – broken promises. (Please see sidebar for links.)

The Olympics and human rights

BBC: Brown urges more China freedoms

Telegraph: US disrupts Olympic party with human rights attack on China

Guardian comment: Even under the spotlight, repression continues

Times: Christians stage Bible sit-in at China airport

Telegraph: China in standoff over human rights

Guardian: Olympics organisers grilled by Channel 4 journalist over China's human rights records

BBC: Limits to China’s pledge of change

BBC: Human rights and the Olympics (John Simpson video)

Times: President Bush condemns China human rights record on eve of Olympics

Guardian: Beijing Olympics open with spectacular ceremony

Guardian: Eleven people dead after suicide attacks in western China

Independent: Bush steps up pressure on China with call for religious freedom

Washington Post: Christian activist escapes police detention

Reuters: Bush urges China to use clout with Sudan on Darfur

Guardian: Why the Chinese love the Olympics

Reports on human rights in China

Christian Solidarity Worldwide: Persecution of Christians in the approach to the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Amnesty International: People's Republic of China: The Olympics countdown - broken promises

Prayer for the Olympics

Release International: Call for 31 days of prayer for China

Church of England publishes prayer to mark opening of Olympic Games

Open Doors: The Church and the Olympic Games