February 2021 – The China Corner by CSW

Increase in online hostility towards churches in Hebei province in January

2021-02-22

New research by CSW points to a sudden and significant increase in online hostility towards Christians in Hebei Province after internet users alleged that the January 2021 coronavirus outbreak there originated in a church. CSW estimates that over 1,000 related comments were posted before they were eventually censored. Observers have noted that online speech is …

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Online hostility towards underground churches in Hebei amid COVID-19 outbreak

2021-02-19

Introduction New research points to a sudden and significant increase in online hostility towards Christians. In a new and worrying trend, some internet users in China have alleged that the January 2021 coronavirus outbreak in Hebei Province originated in a church, causing a storm of online hostility towards Christians, with some online commentators calling for …

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Families of human rights defenders separated at Chinese New Year

2021-02-08

As millions of people across China prepare to celebrate the Spring Festival, hundreds of human rights defenders remain separated from their families. The Spring Festival marks the lunar new year, and for many in China, it is traditionally a time to be with family and friends. However, many human rights lawyers, journalists and activists are …

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Human rights lawyer disbarred as authorities launch crackdown on citizen journalists

2021-02-04

Authorities in China have revoked the licence of human rights lawyer Ren Quanniu, who represented Chinese Christian activist Zhang Zhan in 2020. The news comes as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s central propaganda department has announced plans to step up regulation of the country’s citizen journalism. Ren stands accused by the Henan Provincial Judicial Department …

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Submission to the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council

2021-02-02

Introduction CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) is a human rights organisation specialising in the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). This submission seeks to draw the Council’s attention to manifestations of anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination in the People’s Republic China, especially in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR, also known as East Turkestan to …

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Together for Uyghurs: Many beliefs, one voice

2021-02-01

Every year on 27 January, the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day, remembering the millions killed under Nazi persecution, as well as in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. It is a day to honour the memories of those who lost their lives and to re-commit to never allowing such crimes to happen again.