Serious questions have once again arisen regarding religious freedom in China. A report in the British newspaper The Telegraph has claimed that more than 10 thousand Christians have been arrested during the last decade under the rule of President Xi Jinping. According to the report, the target of the action was those who prayed in unregistered or underground churches instead of government-recognized churches. The claim is that only state-controlled churches have official recognition in China, where patriotic songs are sung before prayers and Xi Jinping’s photo is placed on the church stage. This report has sparked a new debate in China regarding religious freedom and government control.
‘Daughter kept crying, I couldn’t do anything’, Christian narrated his ordeal
The Telegraph’s report mentions the story of a Christian named TJ, whose identity has been hidden for security reasons. According to TJ, one night suddenly there was a loud knock at his house. Shortly after, the police broke down the door, his wife and three-year-old daughter were taken to a separate room and their interrogation began. TJ told that his daughter was crying continuously, but he could not even go near her. He claims that his only fault was that he prayed in an underground church instead of a government recognized church.
Only state controlled churches are valid, claims action against underground churches
According to the report, China officially recognizes five religions, including Protestantism and Catholicism. However, this recognition is limited only to state controlled churches. It has been claimed that in these churches, patriotic songs are sung before the prayers begin and Xi Jinping’s picture is placed above the church stage. On the other hand, Christians who go to underground churches outside of government monitoring are considered law breakers in the eyes of the government and such churches are constantly being cracked down on.
More than 10 thousand arrests and strict policy
The Telegraph report, quoting Bob Fu, founder of human rights organization ChinaAid, has claimed that more than 10,000 Christians have been arrested in the last ten years during Xi Jinping’s rule. Recently, the police raided the Early Rain Covenant Church and detained more than 30 people. According to the report, under the “Sinicization” policy introduced in 2015, religious communities were asked to show loyalty to the Communist Party of China before their religious identity. After this, many underground churches were closed, religious places were demolished and action was taken against many priests and people associated with the church in different cases.
What is the ‘Sinicization’ policy, which increased the strictness?
According to the report, in 2015, the Xi Jinping government implemented the “Sinicization” policy. Under this, religious organizations were asked to show loyalty to the Communist Party of China and the country before their religious identity. The report claims that following this policy, action against underground churches intensified, many religious places were closed and legal action against people associated with the church increased.
Recognition of five religions, but with conditions
China officially recognizes five religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism. However, according to the report, this recognition is given only to those religious institutions which work under the control of the government. The report claims that state-controlled churches are mandated to follow government rules, while religious activities outside are strictly monitored.
What did the human rights organization say?
In the report, Bob Fu, founder of human rights organization ChinaAid, claims that more than 10 thousand Christians were arrested in China in the last decade. According to him, the government’s action has had the biggest impact on those who pray in independent or unregistered churches. The Chinese government rejects these allegations and says that all religious matters in the country are conducted under the law.
China called the allegations wrong
According to the report of The Telegraph, the Chinese Embassy in Britain has rejected these allegations. The embassy says that religious matters in China are managed according to the law and courts hear all cases according to the legal process. China also says that some “anti-China forces” are misrepresenting the country’s policies and spreading misinformation in the name of religious freedom and human rights.
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