Welcome to our latest edition of China Voices, a quarterly update on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China.
From October to December 2023, CSW recorded 71 incidents of violations affecting religious or belief groups across China.
With the new Patriotic Education Law, China’s ongoing Sinicization campaign seems to have reached a new height. Hong Kong’s Anglican cathedral displayed the PRC flag for the first time; performers dressed as Red Army retold the Long March story and sung praises unto the Party during a church service in northeastern Liaoning province.
Alongside political indoctrination, religious education and other normal activities continue to be restricted. Adherents have been deprived of their liberty for reasons such as renting a hotel room for a religious meeting, praying for the Dalai Lama, helping Christians buy Bibles, conducting a wedding according to Islamic customs or sharing about one’s religion or belief in a social media group. On Christmas Eve, Christian churches in some places were surrounded by police officers in riot gear, in sharp contrast to the festive atmosphere and the Christmas message of peace.
CSW’s new briefing on China’s ‘Socialist rule of law’ explains some factors that contribute to widespread human rights violations in the country.
Click to download China Voices (October – December 2023)
