CHINA – CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION SOARS AS NEW LAWS BITE
It’s now six months since tough new restrictions on religious freedom came into force across China. Release International, which supports Christians under pressure around the world, says persecution has been rising dramatically. Partners report a five-fold increase in the number of Christians facing harassment from the authorities. Churches are being forced to tear down crosses and replace them with the national flag. Release has launched a petition calling for the new religious restrictions to be repealed.
The new Regulations for Religious Affairs tighten up on the registration and control of religious organisations. They give more power to local officials to approve the activities of churches and decide their fate. Even before the tough new rules were implemented, documented cases of persecution were rising.
‘Fivefold rise’
According to Release partner Bob Fu, the persecution of Christians in China is now at the highest level since the Cultural Revolution. Fu recorded a fivefold increase in the number of Christians who were persecuted by the government in 2017.
He told the Washington Times: ‘We documented persecution against 1,265 churches, and 223,000 people.’ Of those, 3,700 Christians were arrested. ‘That is just the tip of the iceberg.’
https://releaseinternational.org/china-christian-persecution-soars-as-new-laws-bite/
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