U.S. Report Criticizes China's Suppression of Religious Freedom

Jun 27, 2024

In recent years, the Chinese government has increasingly escalated its actions to suppress religious freedom. The 2023 annual report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) detailed numerous violations by the Chinese government, revealing the dark side of the world’s second-largest economy in the realm of religious freedom.

Policies and Measures

The Chinese government employs various methods to suppress and control religion. Firstly, it strictly monitors and manages religious activities. All religious organizations must register with the government and are subject to supervision and management by the State Administration for Religious Affairs. This management system ensures the government’s comprehensive control over religious activities, rendering any religious activity not recognized by the government illegal.

Secondly, the Chinese government has implemented strict laws and policies to restrict religious beliefs. For example, the “Regulations on Religious Affairs” in China stipulate that religious activities must be conducted in registered religious venues, and minors are prohibited from participating in religious activities. These regulations are clearly intended to limit the spread of religious beliefs, particularly among the younger generation.

Suppression of Minority Religions

The suppression of minority religions in China is particularly severe. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is a major hotspot for this issue. According to the USCIRF report, millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in so-called “re-education camps.” These camps are essentially concentration camps, where detainees suffer forced labor, torture, and indoctrination, with the aim of erasing their religious beliefs and cultural identity.

A survivor recalled, “They stripped us of everything, not just our freedom, but also our faith and dignity.”

Tibet is another example of religious repression. The Chinese government exercises strict control over Tibetan Buddhism, with photos of the Dalai Lama being banned, and temples and monks subjected to intense surveillance. Monks are forced to undergo “patriotic education” and are compelled to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party rather than their religious beliefs.

A Tibetan monk stated, “We have become prisoners in our own temples, forced to betray our faith.”

Suppression of Christianity

Christianity in China also faces severe repression. Despite its long history in the country, the government’s crackdown on Christian churches has intensified in recent years. Many house churches have been shut down, church leaders arrested, and crosses forcibly removed. The government has also employed high-tech methods, such as facial recognition technology and big data analysis, to monitor church activities.

A pastor from an underground church said, “Our faith is struggling to survive in the dark, but even in the darkest moments, we will not give up.”

The government is also promoting a so-called “Sinicization of Christianity” policy, attempting to integrate Christian doctrine with traditional Chinese culture and socialist core values. This is essentially a distortion and manipulation of Christian teachings, aimed at weakening their influence and ensuring they remain under government control.

Persecution of Falun Gong

Falun Gong has been a primary target of the Chinese government’s crackdown since 1999. Falun Gong practitioners have faced widespread and systematic persecution due to their beliefs. According to the USCIRF report, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in labor camps, prisons, and psychiatric hospitals, where they suffer torture, forced labor, and even organ harvesting. Despite international concern over this issue, the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese government continues unabated.

A Falun Gong practitioner recounted, “They want not only to destroy our bodies but also to crush our souls.”

Conclusion

Religious freedom is a fundamental human right that should be respected and protected by all nations. The Chinese government’s suppression of religious freedom not only violates basic human rights but also poses a serious challenge to the international community. While China’s economy continues to grow, its record on human rights remains deeply concerning. The international community must continue to monitor and pressure the Chinese government to improve religious freedom conditions and respect and protect citizens’ rights to religious belief.