At the 2022 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C., held from June 28-30, religious freedom advocates gathered to highlight the ongoing human rights violations in the Tai Ji Men case, which has persisted in Taiwan for over 25 years. The summit, chaired by former U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, attracted high-profile political, religious, and academic figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei.

Two breakout sessions focused on the Tai Ji Men case, emphasizing Taiwan’s failure to implement key human rights protections outlined in international covenants. The case involves alleged tax fraud charges against Tai Ji Men, a cultural and spiritual group, which critics argue is a violation of religious freedom. Taiwan’s National Taxation Bureau has been accused of discriminatory treatment and violating human rights laws such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Charlotte Lee, a representative from the Action Alliance to Redress 1219, underscored the injustice and unequal treatment faced by Tai Ji Men. International scholars, such as Alessandro Amicarelli and Dr. Donald Westbrook, joined the call for Taiwan to respect religious freedom, with Amicarelli organizing ongoing seminars to keep global attention on the case. Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, Tai Ji Men’s grandmaster, delivered a video message urging collective action to protect the right to belief and conscience.

The Tai Ji Men case continues to draw international attention, with advocates signing petitions and urging the Taiwanese government to rectify the situation. As Taiwan strives for full democracy, resolving this long-standing case is seen as essential for upholding religious freedom and human rights.