Canadian Human Rights Organizations Express Concern Over Escalating Tension At Pro-Democracy Protests in Hong Kong

(TORONTO, Ontario) -- One Free World International has joined with Federation for a Democratic China to speak out about the pro-democracy demonstrations taking place in Hong Kong. Together, they are calling on President Xi Jinping to exercise patience and restraint as he attempts to resolve the conflict with Hong Kong citizens, who are seeking democracy and the freedom to choose their own government, a right which was guaranteed to Hong Kong when the British handed it back to China in 1997.

According to Ms. SHENG Xue, President of Federation for a Democratic China: "What they have been offered is a fake vote for Chief Executive of Hong Kong with every candidate, selected by Beijing, required to state their allegiance to the Communist Party government. To Canadians, accustomed to democratic elections, this is clearly unacceptable."

Xue says the international society must put pressure on to the Chinese central government and HK SAR administration to prevent conflicts from being magnified and bloodshed from taking place. 

“We are very concerned about the potential for this situation to escalate,” said Majed El Shafie, President and Founder of One Free World International. “We do not want to see a repeat of the Tiananmen Square massacre that took place in 1989. The people of Hong Kong and the people of China deserve better – they deserve the right to have a real say in their government and to follow their conscience in practicing their religious beliefs.”

Prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, One Free World International called for a boycott of Chinese products in order to create awareness of their concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s policies on religious freedom. OFWI continues to call for a boycott of Chinese products. Says El Shafie, “We know this campaign is largely symbolic, but over the years we have been pleasantly surprised to realize that we are not alone in this strategy – the current situation in Hong Kong strengthens our resolve that we must continue until the Communist Party changes its policies and allows true freedom of religion and democracy for its people.”

“China must resolve the protests in Hong Kong quickly and peacefully by respecting the people’s right to determine their own leadership,” says El Shafie. "The world is watching how they handle this situation and we expect them to honor the democratic rights and promises granted to the people of Hong Kong. Furthermore, our leaders must not allow commercial and diplomatic considerations to get in the way of standing up for human rights, religious freedom, and democracy for the people of Hong Kong and China."

El Shafie has a unique voice, having once been arrested, tortured, and sentenced to die in Egypt for defending human rights and fighting for freedom of religion and the rights of minorities. He regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament and Senate, and he's a frequent guest on news outlets worldwide, including FOX News Radio, Glenn Beck, Mike Huckabee, Phil Valentine, Laura Ingraham, CBN News, CBC, Sun News Network, CTV News, American Family Radio and many more. He now resides in Canada and fights for those persecuted around the world through his human rights organization, One Free World International. Pressuring governments, and challenging both world and spiritual leaders, he has not been afraid to put everything on the line to help those in need. 

For more information on Majed El Shafie and One Free World International, visitwww.onefreeworldinternational.org.