Religious persecution in China part 1/3
“A Taoist disciple joins the order without knowing when he will be admitted to priesthood. Dozens of Christians are barred from celebrating Christmas together. Tibetan monks are forced to learn reinterpretations of Buddhist doctrine during a “patriotic reeducation” session. A Uighur Muslim farmer is sentenced to nine years in prison for praying in a field. And a 45-year-old father in northeastern China dies in custody days after being detained for practicing Falun Gong.”
“Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, religious persecution in China has increased overall. “
Combining both violent and nonviolent methods, the CCP’s policies are designed to curb the rapid growth of religious communities and eliminate certain beliefs and practices, while also harnessing aspects of religion that could serve the regime’s political and economic interests.
Source: https://freedomhouse.org/report/china-religious-freedom
#ReligionFreedom
#sinicization
“A Taoist disciple joins the order without knowing when he will be admitted to priesthood. Dozens of Christians are barred from celebrating Christmas together. Tibetan monks are forced to learn reinterpretations of Buddhist doctrine during a “patriotic reeducation” session. A Uighur Muslim farmer is sentenced to nine years in prison for praying in a field. And a 45-year-old father in northeastern China dies in custody days after being detained for practicing Falun Gong.”
“Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, religious persecution in China has increased overall. “
Combining both violent and nonviolent methods, the CCP’s policies are designed to curb the rapid growth of religious communities and eliminate certain beliefs and practices, while also harnessing aspects of religion that could serve the regime’s political and economic interests.
Source: https://freedomhouse.org/report/china-religious-freedom
#ReligionFreedom
#sinicization
Freedom House
The Battle for China’s Spirit
Religious Revival, Repression, and Resistance under Xi Jinping
Religious persecution in China part 2/3
“Sinicization” Campaign
On January 26, under the command of officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau of central China’s Yiyang county in Henan Province’s Luoyang city, a Three-Self church in Fuchang village was transformed: The original Western-style steeple and cross were dismantled, and the building converted into a “Chinese-style private house.”
Previously, the county government had issued a document demanding that existing registered religious venues be revamped; the document outlined that these venues can’t “crave things big and foreign” or imitate Gothic or Romanesque architecture – they must embody Chinese aesthetics only.
“The government may also occupy the church and repurpose it. In an attempt to save the church, believers bought and placed 20 sewing machines in the church to make it look like a clothing factory.”
Mosques throughout China are also “sinicized,” like the one over in Shanxi Province, whose Arabic style was forcibly altered.
“No matter how I look at it, I still can’t get used to it. It doesn’t have the original mosque flavor any longer,” a local imam said.
In China’s northern Handan city, in Hebei Province, crescent-moon symbols and onion domes have also been dismantled from the tops of mosques in several counties with concentrated populations of ethnic Huis, such as Daming county and Qiu county.
The “sinicization” of buildings has not been limited to religious venues. The government spent more than 20 million RMB (about $2.86 million) to alter Suzhou’s “Tower Shadow Bridge,” making it “more Chinese.” The officials’ alleged reason for the bridge’s alterations: safety.
Source: https://bitterwinter.org/places-of-worship-converted-into-chinese-style-houses/
#sinicization
#ReligionFreedom
“Sinicization” Campaign
On January 26, under the command of officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau of central China’s Yiyang county in Henan Province’s Luoyang city, a Three-Self church in Fuchang village was transformed: The original Western-style steeple and cross were dismantled, and the building converted into a “Chinese-style private house.”
Previously, the county government had issued a document demanding that existing registered religious venues be revamped; the document outlined that these venues can’t “crave things big and foreign” or imitate Gothic or Romanesque architecture – they must embody Chinese aesthetics only.
“The government may also occupy the church and repurpose it. In an attempt to save the church, believers bought and placed 20 sewing machines in the church to make it look like a clothing factory.”
Mosques throughout China are also “sinicized,” like the one over in Shanxi Province, whose Arabic style was forcibly altered.
“No matter how I look at it, I still can’t get used to it. It doesn’t have the original mosque flavor any longer,” a local imam said.
In China’s northern Handan city, in Hebei Province, crescent-moon symbols and onion domes have also been dismantled from the tops of mosques in several counties with concentrated populations of ethnic Huis, such as Daming county and Qiu county.
The “sinicization” of buildings has not been limited to religious venues. The government spent more than 20 million RMB (about $2.86 million) to alter Suzhou’s “Tower Shadow Bridge,” making it “more Chinese.” The officials’ alleged reason for the bridge’s alterations: safety.
Source: https://bitterwinter.org/places-of-worship-converted-into-chinese-style-houses/
#sinicization
#ReligionFreedom
Bitter Winter
Province
(省). A part of the administrative division of China at the highest, provincial level. China includes 22 provinces (although sometimes the government mentions
Religious persecution in China part 3/3
10th April: the Light Valley Church in Wuhan, Hubei was accused for holding illegal religious events by the religious affairs office in Hung Shan District. The officer then notified the landlord of the church area and requested to stop letting the place to the church. The Light Valley Church replied, “finally, it is our turn.” On 21st April the day for Easters celebration, they held their final ritual. There were 10 new members joining the church conference.
15th April: a family church in Zhejiang was forced to be demolished. According to some news, the related officials requested the church to join “Three-self patriotic movement” and only by doing so, the church could stay. “Three-self patriotic movement” refers to Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, it refers to the Chinese Christian Church, which is politically obeyed the political leadership of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, and should be free from management and intervention from foreign churches, "autonomy, self-maintenance and self-preach."
As reported by the Christian Times, churches and crosses in Shandong, Hubei and inner Mongolia had been demolished. In the early morning on 12th April, a Catholic church located in Xianto, Hubei was dismantled; On 16th April, the cross of a Catholic praying place located in Xinzhou, Hubei was taken down; On the day of Easter 21st April, the cross of a Christian church in Shandong was taken down as well.
According to the Ucan News, on 14th Arpil, after Father Jiang finished holing a mass, he was stopped and taken away by some plainclothes government officials. There have been 2 other clergies being arrested by the government in late March.
A presbyter in Henan reported on 11th April that local government was recruiting 1 person from each village to monitor the church and report to the government if there were any children entering churches. Each person gets paid 300 RMB monthly. The local farmers who are in poverty could receive 60 RMB monthly subsidy per person.
After the execution of the amended Regulations on Religious Affairs in February, 2018, news about family churches in China being demolished has been reported continuously. The government prohibits children under the age of 18 and party members from participating church gatherings. Many believers and followers of various religious sects and churches had started petitions to support the mainland churches last year.
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/20053/時代論壇-中國教會遭打壓-20053/《時代論壇》：復活節前後-中國拆教堂拆十字架
#ReligionFreedom
#sinicization
#churches
10th April: the Light Valley Church in Wuhan, Hubei was accused for holding illegal religious events by the religious affairs office in Hung Shan District. The officer then notified the landlord of the church area and requested to stop letting the place to the church. The Light Valley Church replied, “finally, it is our turn.” On 21st April the day for Easters celebration, they held their final ritual. There were 10 new members joining the church conference.
15th April: a family church in Zhejiang was forced to be demolished. According to some news, the related officials requested the church to join “Three-self patriotic movement” and only by doing so, the church could stay. “Three-self patriotic movement” refers to Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, it refers to the Chinese Christian Church, which is politically obeyed the political leadership of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, and should be free from management and intervention from foreign churches, "autonomy, self-maintenance and self-preach."
As reported by the Christian Times, churches and crosses in Shandong, Hubei and inner Mongolia had been demolished. In the early morning on 12th April, a Catholic church located in Xianto, Hubei was dismantled; On 16th April, the cross of a Catholic praying place located in Xinzhou, Hubei was taken down; On the day of Easter 21st April, the cross of a Christian church in Shandong was taken down as well.
According to the Ucan News, on 14th Arpil, after Father Jiang finished holing a mass, he was stopped and taken away by some plainclothes government officials. There have been 2 other clergies being arrested by the government in late March.
A presbyter in Henan reported on 11th April that local government was recruiting 1 person from each village to monitor the church and report to the government if there were any children entering churches. Each person gets paid 300 RMB monthly. The local farmers who are in poverty could receive 60 RMB monthly subsidy per person.
After the execution of the amended Regulations on Religious Affairs in February, 2018, news about family churches in China being demolished has been reported continuously. The government prohibits children under the age of 18 and party members from participating church gatherings. Many believers and followers of various religious sects and churches had started petitions to support the mainland churches last year.
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/20053/時代論壇-中國教會遭打壓-20053/《時代論壇》：復活節前後-中國拆教堂拆十字架
#ReligionFreedom
#sinicization
#churches
眾新聞
《時代論壇》：復活節前後 中國拆教堂拆十字架
《時代論壇》報道，過去兩星期，再有中國教會傳出被拆教堂、十字架、家庭教會聚會遭到暫停、教會被監視，以及神職人員被帶走的消息。
#ChowTszLok #10months #HLM #HongKongLivesMatter
Police Bar citizens from Commemorating Deceased Protesters
Sept 8, 2020 marked 10 months since the passing of Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student of HK University of Science and Technology (#HKUST) on Nov 8, 2019. He sustained severe head injuries after falling from height at a car park during a pro-democracy protest.
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/25090
HKUST students' union called on citizens not to forget Chow. Many citizens went on their own and lay white flowers at the carpark. Since early this evening, at least 4 police vehicles were prominently stationed nearby and over 30 armed police, some with pepper ball guns, patrolled around the area.
Whenever a slightly bigger group of citizens appeared, police yelled, “don’t stop, keep walking.” When citizens tried to light a candle after laying flowers, public relations officers stopped them instantly, “you are here to pay tribute, don’t build anything unnecessary."
Source: InMedia #Sept8
#ReligionFreedom
Police Bar citizens from Commemorating Deceased Protesters
Sept 8, 2020 marked 10 months since the passing of Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student of HK University of Science and Technology (#HKUST) on Nov 8, 2019. He sustained severe head injuries after falling from height at a car park during a pro-democracy protest.
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/25090
HKUST students' union called on citizens not to forget Chow. Many citizens went on their own and lay white flowers at the carpark. Since early this evening, at least 4 police vehicles were prominently stationed nearby and over 30 armed police, some with pepper ball guns, patrolled around the area.
Whenever a slightly bigger group of citizens appeared, police yelled, “don’t stop, keep walking.” When citizens tried to light a candle after laying flowers, public relations officers stopped them instantly, “you are here to pay tribute, don’t build anything unnecessary."
Source: InMedia #Sept8
#ReligionFreedom
Turkey Criticised China's Xinjiang Rule and Urged Respect for Uighur Turks Human Rights
On the Eve of the China National Day celebration, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) raised concerns over Beijing's Xinjiang policy, including arbitrary practice against Uighurs. The party urged respect of Uighur Turks and Muslim minorities rights. The Chinese Embassy in Turkey issued a statement to show "strong opposition".
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the Justice and Development Party spokesman Omer Celik said that Turkey had been closely monitoring human rights and freedom of belief in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). He believed that the XUAR De-extremification Regulation, implemented in 2017, contained poor and arbitrary practices against Uyghurs, including arbitrary detentions, limitations of religious freedom and forced-teaching of Chinese. These incidents attracted international community attention, and the UN raised their concerns in reports on related issues.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct01
https://bit.ly/34VOuNK
#Xinjiang #Uighur #Turkey #HumanRights #ReligionFreedom #omerCrlik #XUAR #AKParty
(Note: The translation reference the following news for the exact wordings of Justice and Development Party spokesman Omer Celik:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-chinas-uighur-policy-on-ankara-s-agenda/1990053
https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/turkey-reiterates-concern-over-china-s-rights-violations-against-uighurs-40386
)
On the Eve of the China National Day celebration, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) raised concerns over Beijing's Xinjiang policy, including arbitrary practice against Uighurs. The party urged respect of Uighur Turks and Muslim minorities rights. The Chinese Embassy in Turkey issued a statement to show "strong opposition".
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, the Justice and Development Party spokesman Omer Celik said that Turkey had been closely monitoring human rights and freedom of belief in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). He believed that the XUAR De-extremification Regulation, implemented in 2017, contained poor and arbitrary practices against Uyghurs, including arbitrary detentions, limitations of religious freedom and forced-teaching of Chinese. These incidents attracted international community attention, and the UN raised their concerns in reports on related issues.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct01
https://bit.ly/34VOuNK
#Xinjiang #Uighur #Turkey #HumanRights #ReligionFreedom #omerCrlik #XUAR #AKParty
(Note: The translation reference the following news for the exact wordings of Justice and Development Party spokesman Omer Celik:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-chinas-uighur-policy-on-ankara-s-agenda/1990053
https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/turkey-reiterates-concern-over-china-s-rights-violations-against-uighurs-40386
)