CHINA-INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTY MEMBERS NOT TO PRACTICE RELIGION

Wang Zuoan, Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) wrote in an article published in the Qiushi Journal on July 15, 2017, and reported by the Global Times, that "Party members should not have religious beliefs, which is a red line for all members. ... Party members should be firm Marxist atheists, obey Party rules and stick to the Party's faith ... they are not allowed to seek value and belief in religion." He warned that officials who have religious faith will be persuaded to give it up, and those who resist will be punished by the Party. He said Party members are not allowed to support or get involved in religious affairs in the name of developing the economy or diversifying the culture. "We should guide religious groups and individuals with socialist core values and excellent traditional Chinese culture and support religious groups to dig into their doctrines to find parts that are beneficial to social harmony and development." Wang stated that "Some foreign forces have used religion to infiltrate China, and extremism and illegal religious activities are spreading in some places, which have threatened national security and social stability." Su Wei, a Professor at the Party School of the CCP Chongqing Committee, said that the regulation banning Party members from having religious beliefs would be permanent, but implementing it would involve more work in some parts of the country, such as Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province as well as Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.


The Chinese government has stepped up its crackdown on Christianity and other religions in recent years, arresting hundreds of pastors and activists who protested against the forced demolition of churches. The Communist Party has also targeted Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners for their faith. In May 2017, the Party's Youth League released an 11-minute propaganda video that mocks Christian beliefs and argues that humans, not God, saved the world.







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