Recognizing International Day of Democracy 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the International Day of Democracy, which was Sunday, September 15. This day is an opportunity to promote the principles of democracy and freedom against an alarming resurgence of authoritarianism and fanaticism across the globe.

The enemies of freedom seek to destabilize and destroy the constitutional democracies.

It is estimated that in 2024 alone, two billion people across 64 countries will have exercised their right to self-determination at the ballot box. But already, we have also witnessed sham elections, most notably in Bangladesh, Belarus, Venezuela and Russia, where the incumbent regimes suppressed political opposition and manipulated the electoral process.

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy and the foundation of a free society. Yet, far too many dictators, budding autocrats and monarchists of the world have undermined the will of the people, using coups d'etat and electoral autocracy to stifle democratic voices. According to Freedom House, a leading American organization devoted to the support and defense of democracy around the world, in 2023, political rights and civil liberties were diminished in 52 countries, while just 21 countries made improvements.

In June, I met Dr. Amir Khasru Chowdhury, a leader in the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Dr. Chowdhury was arrested on dubious charges three months before Bangladesh's January 2024 elections. He languished in prison for six months until the Bangladeshi government, then controlled by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, conveniently released him two months after ballots had been cast. Dr. Chowdhury was not alone in his politically motivated imprisonment; his was one of nearly 8,000 arrests of BNP leaders and political dissidents. But despite the government's sinister ploy to subvert the electoral process, Dr. Chowdhury and the other jailed Bangladeshi dissidents were vindicated, and their cause ultimately prevailed. After a historic youth-led movement to end Prime Minister Hasina's despotic reign, the Bangladeshi people have earned the right to redirect their future. It's now time for the international community to support the fundamental principles of democratic governance in Bangladesh.

Meantime in Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to erode the city's political independence. In July, a Hong Kong court taken over by the CCP denied a request to resume the trial of pro- democracy activist Jimmy Lai. The case prosecuting Mr. Lai for what is essentially a ``thought crime'' lays bare the CCP's authoritarian takeover of the once-free Hong Kong. I was proud to adopt Jimmy Lai as a prisoner of conscience through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project and will continue to passionately advocate for his release.

Jimmy Lai is not the only prisoner of conscience detained by an autocratic regime. In July, I wrote a letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken urging the administration to demand the release of those wrongfully imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for exercising their basic human rights. Thousands of courageous activists, journalists, religious clerics, and human rights defenders have been silenced for simply speaking out about their dreams for democracy--such as their desire to move freely, speak openly and wear whatever they choose. In response to their impassioned advocacy, the repressive Saudi Arabian regime has unjustly imprisoned critical voices, issued violent threats, and imposed severe travel bans. This draconian reign of terror must end immediately.

The governments of Bahrain, Turkey, Belarus and numerous other nations are also holding prisoners of conscience hostage to suppress the voices of their fellow citizens. Our foreign policy must not overlook these human rights violations, be it governments' subversion of electoral processes, obstruction of justice, or the crushing of dissent. I invite my colleagues to use their various platforms to support prisoners of conscience everywhere to tell their stories in the pursuit of justice. Joining the Defending Freedoms Project is one excellent avenue to do so.

In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that democracy and voting rights could shrink and shrivel away or grow and expand. Today, our world is embroiled in a period of democratic backsliding. In reverence to the International Day of Democracy, I'm asking each of my colleagues to join me in boldly advocating for democracy and freedom across the world.

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