E17: Kody Kness on prisoners of conscience in China

In advance of China President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. (Sept. 24-25), Kody Kness, vice president of China Aid, helps us think through the predicament of our fellow Christians in China and prisoners of conscience around the globe.

* ChinaAid.org

* Washington Post editorial, “China’s anti-Christian crusade.”

* 2 Christian pastors detained

* Letter to President Obama

* Kody Kness, biography

* @KodyKness

* Book: God’s Double Agent: The True Story of a Chinese Christian’s Fight for Freedom

* by Bob Fu, President of China Aid

Related news items

* WSJ – Xi Jinping’s Visit and Human Rights

* WSJ – China’s Ailing Prisoners

* Kody’s visit to Chinese prison

* WSJ – Behind China’s Prison Walls

* Washington Post Chinese prison officials thwart Virginia doctor’s effort to visit ailing dissident

* Washington Times U.S. doctor denied visit to sick Chinese democracy activist

Other resources

* China 18

* U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

* What you need to know about USCIRF via ERLC.com

* State Department: Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom

* Defending Freedoms Project

Kody Kness is currently Vice President of China Aid, previously serving as Deputy Executive Director for Sudan Sunrise; Advocacy Manager for the Better World Campaign at the United Nations Foundation; International Human Rights Advisor for U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, advising on foreign policy issues such as religious freedom, Internet freedom, human trafficking, conflict commodities, and rule of law; Associate Director for Government Relations and Outreach at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, where he worked closely with non-governmental organizations, the U.S. Congress, and both the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations to promote religious freedom and related human rights abroad.