Contact: Daniel Burton, China Aid Association, Inc., 432-689-6985, 267-205-5210, info@ChinaAid.org; www.chinaaid.org, www.monitorchina.org

WASHINGTON, July 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- A signatory committee consisting of 18 Republican Congressional members have signed a petition for the release of prisoners detained by the Chinese Government for religious crimes. Some of the prisoners have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their alleged crimes against society.  The delegation directly addressed the Chinese Ambassador to the US, Mr. Zhou Wenzhong, and charged the Chinese Government of directly violating the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, which China co-signed, and which states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Several prisoners who have been incarcerated by the CPC for their religious beliefs were mentioned by name in the letter. They include:

Mr Alimujiang Yimiti Pastor Lou Yuanqi  Mr Wusiman Yiming Mr Shi Weihan

Pastor Dong Yutao Pastor Li Shentang and 20 other prominent house church leaders

Pastor Wang Weiliang, Pastor Shen Zhuke, Mr Feng Guangliang Pastor Zhang Rongliang

Pastor Zhang Geming and Pastor Sun Qingwen Mr Daniel Ng, Mrs Eliza Ng and employees of Enoch Group Pastor Hua Huiqi Ms Shuang Shuying Mr Peng Ming and Mr Gao Zhisheng.

The committee went on to state the hosting of the Olympic Games was a privilege and honor for any country and is a show of human dignity as well as a display of world unanimity. Both concepts have been grossly ignored by China.

The Congressional signees (all republicans) are expectant of a reply from the Chinese Government before the start of the Olympic Games on August 8.

The committee consisted of the following Congressional leaders:

Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Todd Akin (R-MO)

Trent Franks (R-AZ)

Sue Myrick (R-NC)

Virgil Goode (R-VA)

John Doolittle (R-CA)

Dan Lungren (R-CA)

John Shimkus (R-IL)

Paul Broun (R-GA)

Steve King (R-IA)

Jack Kingston (R-GA)

David Davis (R-TN)

Scott Garrett (R-NJ)

Kevin Brady (R-TX)

Wally Herger (R-CA)

Rob Bishop (R-UT)

Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

Joe Pitts (R-PA)

Issued by CAA July 17, 2008