Restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief are still a key concern in China. The Chinese constitution protects ‘normal’ religious activities (Article 36). In practice this refers to activities under the five officially recognised religious traditions (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism), which are overseen by seven state-sanctioned associations.
The reality for religion and belief communities in China is still very much a mixed picture, and conditions vary according to religion, location, ethnicity, attitude of local officials as well as other factors. However, as far as it is possible to generalise, the overall level of freedom of religion or belief in the country has decreased under Xi Jinping. The government’s main goal appears to be to tighten control over registered religious groups at the same time as forcing religious groups outside the state-sanctioned structure to either register or disband.
This downward trend fits into a broader pattern of increasing human rights abuses under President Xi, accompanied by and manifested through a shrinking space for civil society, a heightened sensitivity to perceived challenges to Party rule, and the introduction of legislation that curtails civil and political rights in the name of national security. Concern about the increase in the scope and severity of human rights violations, and the treatment of belief communities, has been expressed at the United Nations both by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and by member states.
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