CHINA: Special bimonthly freedom of religion or belief (16-30.09.2022)
General
28.09.2022 – China: Even border tourism regulations include anti-xie-jiao provisions
China continuously produce new regulations to tighten surveillance and control. It is really fascinating to observe how the CCP’s obsession for xie jiao and “extremism” pops up literally everywhere.
A new draft regulation including “Measures for the Administration of Border Tourism” has been published for comments by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on September 20. The publication of drafts for comments is a pseudo-democratic cosmetic measure as rarely, if ever, are significant changes introduced based on third parties’ statements received by the authorities.
Buddhists
27.09.2022 – Tibet: New Re-Education Program for Buddhist Monks and Nuns
It all started in May. Buddhist monks and nuns were summoned all over Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and asked to participate in re-education courses that would teach them the “Three Consciousness”: national consciousness, citizen consciousness, rule of law consciousness. They already knew before the program started that “national consciousness” means supporting the Chinese rule in Tibet and condemning “separatism,” and “citizen” and “rule of law” consciousness means learning to obey without questions the CCP, the Central Committee, and Xi Jinping.
Protestants
30.09.2022 – Wang Shunping officially arrested
On September 27, 2022, the family of Wang Shunping received his official arrest notice. He was detained at Nujiang Fugong County Detention Center.
Wang Shunping is a young minister in Fugong County, Nujiang, Yunnan province. Authorities charged him with organizing and sponsoring illegal gatherings due to evangelism work. According to other sources, police arrested Nu Sangdeng, San Luobo, and two unidentified female Christians at the same time.
28.09.2022 – Officials interfere with Early Rain funeral
Last week, Early Rain Covenant Church member Shu Qiong and her family planned to hold a memorial service for her father Shu Chunliang at a funeral home in the northern suburbs of Chengdu. However, the Chengdu police interfered and prevented many invited guests from attending.
The homes of many Christians in the church were guarded and blocked so that they would not be able to go out to attend the service. Authorities utilized COVID-prevention electromagnetic alarms to keep people in their homes.
20.09.2022 – Changchun Sunshine Reformed Church banned in Jilin
On September 9, 2022, the Changchun City Civil Affairs Bureau in Jilin province has banned the Changchun Sunshine Reformed Church, claiming it is an “illegal civil organization” and an “illegal social organization.”
Bitter Winter documented last month, by publishing pictures of the raid, that on August 21, a service of Changchun Sunshine Reformed Church, was raided by the police. Those attending the service were beaten by the agents. Two women had heart attacks and had to be hospitalized. Nine believers, Pastor Guo Muyun, Elder Qu Hongliang, and Brother Zhang Liangliang, were detained.
19.09.2022 – Lisu and Nu ethnic minority christians arrested in Yunnan
Since it started publication in 2018, Bitter Winter has reported about the “activism” of the Public Security Bureau and Religious Affairs Bureau in Fugong county of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern province of Yunnan, which carried out a series of raids targeting house churches.
There is a reason why house churches are treated more harshly than elsewhere in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. It is an area of China where Han Chinese are a minority. 52% of the population belongs to the Lisu and Nu ethnic minorities. Both speak Tibeto-Burman languages
Falun Gong
30.09.2022 – Author and educator dies six days after being admitted to prison for his faith in Falun Gong
A well-known author and educator died six days after he was admitted to prison to serve a 4-year term for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Wang Xueming, a native of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, was arrested on November 20, 2020, while he was in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia to give lectures on traditional Chinese culture. An insider revealed that he was reported by a student’s parent for talking to him about Falun Gong. The Qingshan District Procuratorate in Baotou City approved his arrest in December 2020. He was later sentenced to four years.
24.09.2022 –Hebei man serving seven years for his faith not allowed to attend father’s funeral
After Mr. Li Bin was arrested in April 2021 for sending information about Falun Gong online, his parents, who are in their late 70s, hadn’t been allowed to visit or call him once, despite their frequent requests.
On September 10, 2022, during the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions, Mr. Li’s father suddenly passed away.
Mr. Li’s wife called the prison several times and requested to have him released temporarily to attend his father’s funeral. The guards refused her request and said it was impossible for them to release Mr. Li.
19.09.2022 – Belated news: Small business owner falls to his death after police push him out of a window
Minghui.org recently confirmed that a Yanji City, Jilin Province resident fell to his death after he was pushed out of the window by two police officers, when he tried to prevent them from confiscating his Falun Gong books. The 44-year-old is survived by his wife and teenage son.
16.09.2022 – Hebei man sentenced for practicing Falun Gong, term later changed from 3.5 to 6 years
A Hengshui City, Hebei Province, resident was sentenced to 3.5 years in mid-April 2022 for talking to people about Falun Gong. While he was allowed to serve time at home due to his poor health, the court nevertheless held another trial for him months later and increased his term to 6 years.
Other religions
23.09.2022 – Hui mosques and cemeteries “sinicized” in Qinghai, Yunnan, Beijing, and Shanghai
Beginning in 2018, the CCP authorities launched a five-year “Sinicization program” targeting Muslims outside of Xinjiang. As a result, Islamic symbols and cultural signs are disappearing from mosques across the country. Recently, Bitter Winter received nationwide reports indicating that the CCP’s “Sinicization” campaign against Hui Muslims continues, involving several mosques and Muslim cemeteries.