Chinese Police Dynamite Christian Megachurch

[Maarkhoor]

Please say the same thing when they stop muslims in uyghur from observing Ramzan or keeping beard or taking hizab.

Stop trolling...

@waz @Deino

 

[Lil Mathew]

Underground would be something illegal then. You say they are 100 million in numbers and still they are afraid?

China’s Thriving Underground Churches In Danger

Some predict that by 2030, China will have more than 247 million Christians.
If Karl Marx is to be believed and religion is the “opiate of the masses,” then China is waging a new opium war. Threatened by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of Christianity, the Communist Party is gearing up for a sweeping crackdown.

Although China is officially an atheist nation, Protestant Christianity is thriving. According to some estimates, there are as many as 115 million Protestants in China, and it is one of the fastest growing demographics in the country. One analyst predicts that by 2030, China will have more than 247 million Christians, including Catholics, making it the world’s largest congregation.

But much to the authoritarian government’s chagrin, the overwhelming majority of this booming cohort of Chinese Christians are meeting in underground churches. Only state-sanctioned religious organizations are allowed to operate in China, and official churches are closely watched.
In recent years, many state-sanctioned churches have been forced to install surveillance cameras, and preachers, selected by the government, are monitored to ensure that their sermons do not broach taboo topics.

“They want the pastor to preach in a Communist way. They want to train people to practice in a Communist way,” said an underground church leader, who spoke anonymously to the Telegraph.

The preacher explained that state churches often avoid potentially subversive portions of the Bible. For instance, the Old Testament book that tells the story of Daniel, who is exiled and refuses to worship the king as he is ordered and instead worships God, is “very dangerous.”

Preachers have also been pressured to show their loyalty to the Communist Party and have taken to praising President Xi Jinping and incorporating party propaganda into their sermons.

It is these heavy-handed tactics that have made many Chinese Christians turn to underground churches. According to Yang Fenggang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University, of China’s estimated 93 to 115 million Christians, less than 30 million attend official churches.

This disparity has caught the attention of state officials, and earlier this month new regulations aimed at curbing non-state sanctioned houses of worship were passed.

The new law takes effect on February 2, 2018 and will impose heavy fines on organizers of unofficial religious events and prohibit them from carrying out basic functions like receiving donations, providing religious information online, or teaching children.

Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, explained that the new law was necessary because “the foreign use of religion to infiltrate [China] intensifies by the day and religious extremist thought is spreading in some areas.”

While Article 36 of the Chinese constitution ensures that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” Wang said, “freedom of religious faith is not equal to religious activities taking place without legal restrictions.”

“These rules will help maintain the Sinicisation of religion in our country … and keep to the correct path of adapting religion to a socialist society,” he added.

The Communist Party has watched Christianity’s rapid growth warily, with some arguing that the state has long been concerned that the religion could undermine its authority.

According to Yang, the Communist Party is “still not sure if Christianity would become an opposition political force” and fears it could be used by “Western forces to overthrow the Communist political system.”

Two years ago, the government moved aggressively against Christian churches. In Zhejiang, the provincial governor, one of President Xi’s top lieutenants, tore down crosses from 1,200 to 1,700 churches and jailed hundreds of house church leaders.

The campaign was met with strong international condemnation and local protests. In one violent incident, 50 church members were injured when they were beaten back by police officers.

Eager to minimize embarrassing incidents and project an image of social harmony in the buildup to the 19th National Congress, party officials have avoided overly aggressive actions against underground churches. Instead, they have moved more quietly with their attempts to “Sinicize” Christianity.

In addition to passing the new law, China has been working to exert greater control over official Catholic churches. Six decades after China broke off diplomatic relations with the Vatican, the two sides are negotiating an agreement to re-establish formal ties.

An agreement would legitimize China’s state-sanctioned churches while further cementing its control. But efforts have stalled, with both sides insisting on having the ultimate authority to appoint clergy.

As China negotiates with the Vatican, the government has eased up on the nation’s 12 million Catholics, according to a report from Freedom House. However, authorities have continued to pressure underground churches, arresting members and pastors on trumped up charges in the hopes of pushing them to join official congregations.

These efforts are not likely to succeed, as they work to reinforce the concerns underground churchgoers have about state churches. Instead, underground churches have taken to lowering their profile by meeting in smaller groups or on weekdays to avoid detection in advance of the new law taking effect. Larger WeChat groups for churches have also been pared back to smaller groups of 30 to 40.

From college campuses and the the media to the military, churches are just another battleground in President Xi’s efforts to ensure the Communist Party reigns supreme in all walks of life. Religious expression will be allowed to continue in a token form so long as it conforms to the standards set by party officials.

While the Communist Party has developed increasingly sophisticated ways to manipulate its citizens, it remains to be seen if the government can successfully subvert a religion that has withstood repeated repression over its 2,000 year history. Given Christianity’s long, enduring track record, party officials are perhaps rightly worried.

Eugene K. Chow writes on foreign policy and military affairs. He has been published in The Week, Huffington Post, and The Diplomat.
https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/chinas-thriving-underground-churches-in-danger/

 

[Cybernetics]

Thank you again my friend, for such an elaborate reply. I didn't take anything personal, I was just clarifying my position. I hope we both understand each other.



I am all supportive of state controlled mosques in my own country, plus I want my state to interfere and take control of privately operated Medressas as well, and if China is already in that position then we should be learning something from China.

I agree China is huge people and what they have achieved is based on their hard work, dedication and a clear vision, and no people would like their hard earned rewards to be wasted by some fools or malicious thugs. They are an emerging power and I pray the world benefits from them and they don't end being rude and arrogant.

Thank you my friend, I think there is a mutual understanding.

You bring up a good topic. I see many Pakistani members arguing for or against secularism in their own country. Pakistan as many have said was founded upon Islam and I think it would hurt the country to make such a radical deviation such as moving it self further away from religion, a rift in society will occur if the shift happens now. It won't be healthy for society.

Regardless of labels, I think more a centralised religious institution is conducive to Pakistan's development and run by educated and enlightened elites, they can and should come from the grassroots or have at least experienced it to be able to relate to society. Many members have brought up the plight of local religious leaders on society.

Some arguments for secularism is that the west implemented it and it worked wonders for their society, economy, and development. Also that religion is the root cause of societal troubles in the Islamic world. In my view its not so much its the religion but it's the institution of religion that is dysfunctional. The product of today's west didn't happen over night but a process and one can't expect a society to suddenly change. In reference to the West, they have melded their religious values deeply within their constitution, social values, and legal system that it becomes like electricity in the wall, you might not consciously think about "does this room have electric outlets?" as its so deeply intertwined within your society and deeply relevant to daily life that it becomes normal/expected. When one goes to court, one puts their hands on a bible and swears an oath, it has a religious basis, for those that believe in that particular religion/god they hold themselves accountable.

The reason why the Western religious institutions and its derivatives seems more acceptable to the mainstream is because they have made it (relatively) compatible for the reality of modernity. People of different technological usage, lifestyles and experiences have different interpretations of the same word. Turn back time 1000 years ago during the dark ages of Europe and I don't think the interpretation and implementation of religion in their society would be seen as acceptable or conducive to development nowadays. I think this can only be achieved if religious institutions were in the hands of highly enlightened, educated, and moral (however you define it) individuals, not your local religious leaders though they can become enlightened and educated. How can one rely on the education levels of the grassroots when the country is only starting to develop, competent elites are better suited. I think only a progressive elite population can bring society forward and interpret religion to be compatible with modernity (or one's society's current needs), those living outside of development and modernity will never understand or fully appreciate, only those that have seen the light can bring others out of the darkness.

Educated, enlightened, and moral elites should be directing the religious institution not those that don't understand the national vision, prone to self-interest over societal interests, and not aligned with national interests. Religious institution should be just another state function that is inline with policy and not actively undermine it.

Personally I find the educated population of Pakistan to be generally enlightened and some are very enlightened but there is also a large portion of uneducated people who are easily swayed by local religious leaders. This in my opinion weakens Pakistan and hurts the religion.

These are just an outsider's view, could be based on ignorance.

 

[I.R.A]

China’s Thriving Underground Churches In Danger

Some predict that by 2030, China will have more than 247 million Christians.
If Karl Marx is to be believed and religion is the “opiate of the masses,” then China is waging a new opium war. Threatened by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of Christianity, the Communist Party is gearing up for a sweeping crackdown.

Although China is officially an atheist nation, Protestant Christianity is thriving. According to some estimates, there are as many as 115 million Protestants in China, and it is one of the fastest growing demographics in the country. One analyst predicts that by 2030, China will have more than 247 million Christians, including Catholics, making it the world’s largest congregation.

But much to the authoritarian government’s chagrin, the overwhelming majority of this booming cohort of Chinese Christians are meeting in underground churches. Only state-sanctioned religious organizations are allowed to operate in China, and official churches are closely watched.
In recent years, many state-sanctioned churches have been forced to install surveillance cameras, and preachers, selected by the government, are monitored to ensure that their sermons do not broach taboo topics.

“They want the pastor to preach in a Communist way. They want to train people to practice in a Communist way,” said an underground church leader, who spoke anonymously to the Telegraph.

The preacher explained that state churches often avoid potentially subversive portions of the Bible. For instance, the Old Testament book that tells the story of Daniel, who is exiled and refuses to worship the king as he is ordered and instead worships God, is “very dangerous.”

Preachers have also been pressured to show their loyalty to the Communist Party and have taken to praising President Xi Jinping and incorporating party propaganda into their sermons.

It is these heavy-handed tactics that have made many Chinese Christians turn to underground churches. According to Yang Fenggang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University, of China’s estimated 93 to 115 million Christians, less than 30 million attend official churches.

This disparity has caught the attention of state officials, and earlier this month new regulations aimed at curbing non-state sanctioned houses of worship were passed.

The new law takes effect on February 2, 2018 and will impose heavy fines on organizers of unofficial religious events and prohibit them from carrying out basic functions like receiving donations, providing religious information online, or teaching children.

Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, explained that the new law was necessary because “the foreign use of religion to infiltrate [China] intensifies by the day and religious extremist thought is spreading in some areas.”

While Article 36 of the Chinese constitution ensures that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” Wang said, “freedom of religious faith is not equal to religious activities taking place without legal restrictions.”

“These rules will help maintain the Sinicisation of religion in our country … and keep to the correct path of adapting religion to a socialist society,” he added.

The Communist Party has watched Christianity’s rapid growth warily, with some arguing that the state has long been concerned that the religion could undermine its authority.

According to Yang, the Communist Party is “still not sure if Christianity would become an opposition political force” and fears it could be used by “Western forces to overthrow the Communist political system.”

Two years ago, the government moved aggressively against Christian churches. In Zhejiang, the provincial governor, one of President Xi’s top lieutenants, tore down crosses from 1,200 to 1,700 churches and jailed hundreds of house church leaders.

The campaign was met with strong international condemnation and local protests. In one violent incident, 50 church members were injured when they were beaten back by police officers.

Eager to minimize embarrassing incidents and project an image of social harmony in the buildup to the 19th National Congress, party officials have avoided overly aggressive actions against underground churches. Instead, they have moved more quietly with their attempts to “Sinicize” Christianity.

In addition to passing the new law, China has been working to exert greater control over official Catholic churches. Six decades after China broke off diplomatic relations with the Vatican, the two sides are negotiating an agreement to re-establish formal ties.

An agreement would legitimize China’s state-sanctioned churches while further cementing its control. But efforts have stalled, with both sides insisting on having the ultimate authority to appoint clergy.

As China negotiates with the Vatican, the government has eased up on the nation’s 12 million Catholics, according to a report from Freedom House. However, authorities have continued to pressure underground churches, arresting members and pastors on trumped up charges in the hopes of pushing them to join official congregations.

These efforts are not likely to succeed, as they work to reinforce the concerns underground churchgoers have about state churches. Instead, underground churches have taken to lowering their profile by meeting in smaller groups or on weekdays to avoid detection in advance of the new law taking effect. Larger WeChat groups for churches have also been pared back to smaller groups of 30 to 40.

From college campuses and the the media to the military, churches are just another battleground in President Xi’s efforts to ensure the Communist Party reigns supreme in all walks of life. Religious expression will be allowed to continue in a token form so long as it conforms to the standards set by party officials.

While the Communist Party has developed increasingly sophisticated ways to manipulate its citizens, it remains to be seen if the government can successfully subvert a religion that has withstood repeated repression over its 2,000 year history. Given Christianity’s long, enduring track record, party officials are perhaps rightly worried.

Eugene K. Chow writes on foreign policy and military affairs. He has been published in The Week, Huffington Post, and The Diplomat.
https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/chinas-thriving-underground-churches-in-danger/

“These rules will help maintain the Sinicisation of religion in our country … and keep to the correct path of adapting religion to a socialist society,” he added.

What's wrong in that? Why would Chinese Christians want to be subversive, if state is looking after their welfare and is providing them peaceful secure environment?

I can understand a religious people going underground because they are persecuted and killed for their faith, but why would a religious people go underground just to operate underground worship places? This does strengthen the Chinese concern that religion is being used for some nefarious purpose.

And buddy I can see how much Xi is worried standing in that mosque ..... he must be plotting with evil Muzzies against those underground churches.

 

[qwerrty]

i highly doubt that underground 247 million bs. lol... must be pulling from their butts again like that claim that there are over 200 million active twitter users in china nonsense..

 

[$@rJen]

For your information ....... a Pakistani has been answering / debating his Chinese friends in this very same thread.

That's funny.... He's still allowed to debate because he's Chinese... If it was from an Indian, for raising his voice against Islam he would've been banned long ago...

 

[I.R.A]

Thank you my friend, I think there is a mutual understanding.

You bring up a good topic. I see many Pakistani members arguing for or against secularism in their own country. Pakistan as many have said was founded upon Islam and I think it would hurt the country to make such a radical deviation such as moving it self further away from religion, a rift in society will occur if the shift happens now. It won't be healthy for society.

Regardless of labels, I think more a centralised religious institution is conducive to Pakistan's development and run by educated and enlightened elites, they can and should come from the grassroots or have at least experienced it to be able to relate to society. Many members have brought up the plight of local religious leaders on society.

Some arguments for secularism is that the west implemented it and it worked wonders for their society, economy, and development. Also that religion is the root cause of societal troubles in the Islamic world. In my view its not so much its the religion but it's the institution of religion that is dysfunctional. The product of today's west didn't happen over night but a process and one can't expect a society to suddenly change. In reference to the West, they have melded their religious values deeply within their constitution, social values, and legal system that it becomes like electricity in the wall, you might not consciously think about "does this room have electric outlets?" as its so deeply intertwined within your society and deeply relevant to daily life that it becomes normal/expected. When one goes to court, one puts their hands on a bible and swears an oath, it has a religious basis, for those that believe in that particular religion/god they hold themselves accountable.

The reason why the Western religious institutions and its derivatives seems more acceptable to the mainstream is because they have made it (relatively) compatible for the reality of modernity. People of different technological usage, lifestyles and experiences have different interpretations of the same word. Turn back time 1000 years ago during the dark ages of Europe and I don't think the interpretation and implementation of religion in their society would be seen as acceptable or conducive to development nowadays. I think this can only be achieved if religious institutions were in the hands of highly enlightened, educated, and moral (however you define it) individuals, not your local religious leaders though they can become enlightened and educated. How can one rely on the education levels of the grassroots when the country is only starting to develop, competent elites are better suited. I think only a progressive elite population can bring society forward and interpret religion to be compatible with modernity (or one's society's current needs), those living outside of development and modernity will never understand or fully appreciate, only those that have seen the light can bring others out of the darkness.

Educated and enlightened elites should be directing the religious institution not those that don't understand the national vision, prone to self-interest over societal interests, and not aligned with national interests. Religious institution should be just another state function that is inline with policy and not actively undermine it.

Personally I find the educated population of Pakistan to be generally enlightened and some are very enlightened but there is also a large portion of uneducated people who are easily swayed by local religious leaders. This in my opinion weakens Pakistan and hurts the religion.

These are just an outsider's view, could be based on ignorance.

My friend for the time being the biggest problem of Pakistanis is they are confused ...... to be brutally honest with you, we Pakistanis, ourselves don't properly understand our religion (I won't go into details of how enlightened and just Islam and its book Quran happens to be). The people against the change are deeply conservative who have over the time made history and its events as part of their faith and they are closed to listening to a counter narrative or proving false the history they believe as part of faith now ....... and then we have people who wish to bring change but they are disconnected from the ground reality and think that borrowing some Western idea of state would make our problems go away.

Your reply shows that you have a deep insight of your neighbor's society and are close to understanding their problem. The thing with Pakistan is that its majority Muslims, and it was founded by people who believed in state system as provided in Quran, and that system is totally different than a theocracy or a secular state, if you don't mind I would take the liberty to say that Quranic state is more better than a theocracy and a secular state, both in terms of treatment of its people (irrespective of their faith), being democratic and managing the affairs of the state. Unfortunately Pakistan soon lost its founders and with their demise it also lost its course. We landed up being a country run by feudal lords, dictators, corrupt politicians, which lead to interference by outsiders and hold a say in matters of Pakistan, this happened for so long that ..... the idea of Pakistan being a Quranic state totally got lost, people were deliberately kept uneducated and striving for basic needs, its happening even today, and the motive behind all this is to strengthen the hold over people, to keep people struggling for very basic needs so they never get the chance to question the rulers ...... contrary to Quranic belief that a ruler can be held accountable and punished for his wrongdoings.

Its a lengthy debate if you are interested I would be happy to go into details on some appropriate thread.

Pleasure reading your posts.

That's funny.... He's still allowed to debate because he's Chinese... If it was from an Indian, for raising his voice against Islam he would've been banned long ago...

He questioned the existence of God and I answered. I haven't seen any post against Christians. So I don't know what's the problem. If you want, you can answer them.

 

[HannibalBarca]

For those Lurking...and not saying anything... for X reasons...
"You silence for the people of the Book...Shall fall upon you...when times come"

Good Job on giving your voice on such matter @I.R.A

 

[Lil Mathew]

What's wrong in that? Why would Chinese Christians want to be subversive, if state is looking after their welfare and is providing them peaceful secure environment?

I can understand a religious people going underground because they are persecuted and killed for their faith, but why would a religious people go underground just to operate underground worship places? This does strengthen the Chinese concern that religion is being used for some nefarious purpose.

Read the article one more time you will get the answer why this much people gone underground for prayers...

And buddy I can see how much Xi is worried standing in that mosque ..... he must be plotting with evil Muzzies against those underground churches.

Islam in China also faces difficulties...
China bans burqas and 'abnormal' beards in Muslim province of Xinjiang
Government claims it is cracking down on 'extremism' but human rights groups say religious freedom under attack

• Lizzie Dearden
• @lizziedearden
• Thursday 30 March 2017 11:17 BS

Xinjiang is home to China's largest Muslim population because of the high proportion of ethnic Uyghurs Getty
China has banned burqas, veils and “abnormal” beards in a predominantly Muslim province in what it claims is a crackdown on religious extremism.

The measures, which also force people to watch state television, follow decades of ethnic and religious discrimination against Xinjiang’s 10 million-strong ethic Uyghur population.

New regulations, to come into force on Saturday, require government workers in airports, railway stations and other public places “dissuade” women who fully cover their faces and bodies from entering and report them to police.

China bans parents from 'luring children into religion' in province
They also prohibit the “abnormal growing of beards and naming of children to exaggerate religious fervour”, without giving specifics.

It will be forbidden to “reject or refuse radio, television and other public facilities and services”, marrying using religious rather than legal procedures and “using the name of Halal to meddle in the secular life of others”.

Rules published in state-controlled media continue: “Parents should use good moral conduct to influence their children, educate them to revere science, pursue culture, uphold ethnic unity and refuse and oppose extremism.”

The document also bans not allowing children to attend regular school, not abiding by family planning policies and deliberately damaging legal documents.

Successive bans on select "extremist behaviours" have previously been introduced in in areas of Xinjiang, including stopping people with headscarves, veils and long beards from boarding buses in at least one city.

The 15 new rules expand an existing list and apply them to the whole province in what the Chinese government claims is a campaign against religious extremism.

Xinjiang, which borders Pakistan and Muslim-majority nations including Kazakhstan, is home to the greatest concentration of Muslims in China because of its significant ethnic Uyghur population.

But restrictions are enforced on the practice of Islam, as well as China’s four other officially recognised religions, and the new rules threaten further punishment.

Hundreds of people have died in the ongoing conflict between separatists and the Chinese government in the autonomous region, which sits on China’s far north-western border.

Beijing has blamed the unrest on Islamist militants, though rights groups say the violence is a reaction to repressive Chinese policies and separatists claim the region has been illegally occupied since 1949.

Peaceful protests have taken place alongside bombings and other violent attacks on Chinese security forces and institutions.

A rise in violence has triggered a large increase in security, with President Xi Jinping calling for a "great wall of iron" to safeguard the region during the annual meeting of China's parliament earlier this month.

The government strongly denies committing any abuses in Xinjiang and insists the legal, cultural and religious rights of Uyghur, a Turkic ethnic group, are fully protected.

China officially guarantees freedom of religion but authorities have issued a series of measures in recent years to tackle what it sees as a rise in “extremism”, while expanding its military presence in the region.


The popularity of Islamic veils including the niqab and burqa, which cover the face, has been rising among Uyghurs in recent years, in what experts say is an expression of opposition to Chinese controls.

Human Rights Watch’s 2017 world report accused Beijing of increasing “restrictions on fundamental human rights and pervasive ethnic and religious discrimination”, noting that details of “counter-terror” operations are scarce.

Travel restrictions increased when passports were recalled last year, with authorities requiring applicants to provide a DNA sample, fingerprints, a voice recording, and a “three-dimensional image”.

Local authorities have previously banned Muslim civil servants, students, and teachers from fasting and instructed restaurants to stay open during the holy month of Ramadan.

Amnesty International said the move, as well as a crackdown on “unauthorised” Muslim prayer gatherings, constituted violations of freedom of religion.

Dozens of students and writers have been arrested under a “counter-terror law” brought in last year and critics of government policy have been jailed.

Additional reporting by Reuters

 

[beijingwalker]

Read the article one more time you will get the answer why this much people gone underground for prayers...

Islam in China also faces difficulties...
China bans burqas and 'abnormal' beards in Muslim province of Xinjiang
Government claims it is cracking down on 'extremism' but human rights groups say religious freedom under attack

• Lizzie Dearden
• @lizziedearden
• Thursday 30 March 2017 11:17 BS

Xinjiang is home to China's largest Muslim population because of the high proportion of ethnic Uyghurs Getty
China has banned burqas, veils and “abnormal” beards in a predominantly Muslim province in what it claims is a crackdown on religious extremism.

The measures, which also force people to watch state television, follow decades of ethnic and religious discrimination against Xinjiang’s 10 million-strong ethic Uyghur population.

New regulations, to come into force on Saturday, require government workers in airports, railway stations and other public places “dissuade” women who fully cover their faces and bodies from entering and report them to police.

China bans parents from 'luring children into religion' in province
They also prohibit the “abnormal growing of beards and naming of children to exaggerate religious fervour”, without giving specifics.

It will be forbidden to “reject or refuse radio, television and other public facilities and services”, marrying using religious rather than legal procedures and “using the name of Halal to meddle in the secular life of others”.

Rules published in state-controlled media continue: “Parents should use good moral conduct to influence their children, educate them to revere science, pursue culture, uphold ethnic unity and refuse and oppose extremism.”

The document also bans not allowing children to attend regular school, not abiding by family planning policies and deliberately damaging legal documents.

Successive bans on select "extremist behaviours" have previously been introduced in in areas of Xinjiang, including stopping people with headscarves, veils and long beards from boarding buses in at least one city.

The 15 new rules expand an existing list and apply them to the whole province in what the Chinese government claims is a campaign against religious extremism.

Xinjiang, which borders Pakistan and Muslim-majority nations including Kazakhstan, is home to the greatest concentration of Muslims in China because of its significant ethnic Uyghur population.

But restrictions are enforced on the practice of Islam, as well as China’s four other officially recognised religions, and the new rules threaten further punishment.

Hundreds of people have died in the ongoing conflict between separatists and the Chinese government in the autonomous region, which sits on China’s far north-western border.

Beijing has blamed the unrest on Islamist militants, though rights groups say the violence is a reaction to repressive Chinese policies and separatists claim the region has been illegally occupied since 1949.

Peaceful protests have taken place alongside bombings and other violent attacks on Chinese security forces and institutions.

A rise in violence has triggered a large increase in security, with President Xi Jinping calling for a "great wall of iron" to safeguard the region during the annual meeting of China's parliament earlier this month.

The government strongly denies committing any abuses in Xinjiang and insists the legal, cultural and religious rights of Uyghur, a Turkic ethnic group, are fully protected.

China officially guarantees freedom of religion but authorities have issued a series of measures in recent years to tackle what it sees as a rise in “extremism”, while expanding its military presence in the region.


The popularity of Islamic veils including the niqab and burqa, which cover the face, has been rising among Uyghurs in recent years, in what experts say is an expression of opposition to Chinese controls.

Human Rights Watch’s 2017 world report accused Beijing of increasing “restrictions on fundamental human rights and pervasive ethnic and religious discrimination”, noting that details of “counter-terror” operations are scarce.

Travel restrictions increased when passports were recalled last year, with authorities requiring applicants to provide a DNA sample, fingerprints, a voice recording, and a “three-dimensional image”.

Local authorities have previously banned Muslim civil servants, students, and teachers from fasting and instructed restaurants to stay open during the holy month of Ramadan.

Amnesty International said the move, as well as a crackdown on “unauthorised” Muslim prayer gatherings, constituted violations of freedom of religion.

Dozens of students and writers have been arrested under a “counter-terror law” brought in last year and critics of government policy have been jailed.

Additional reporting by Reuters

China treats all religions equally as long as they don't disrupt our social orders, so if something is banned, there must be a reason,China never indiscriminately cracks down on anything, Falungong was the case in point.

 

[I.R.A]

China bans burqas and 'abnormal' beards in Muslim province of Xinjiang

Bring me a verse from Quran that declares that wearing burqa and keeping abnormal beards is necessary for being Muslim .........

It may come as a shock to you, but early Muslim women played a very active role in the society, so much so that they accompanied Muslim men to the battlefields, and obviously those actions were bigger than worrying about wearing burqa or not. And interestingly Muhammad (Peace be upon him) married a business woman and the marriage proposal was sent by that woman herself.

What you are posting is State taking actions to safeguard its citizens, and keeping the harmony intact. If I was in China and state told me that you can go to mosque and pray but don't incite religious hatred I would respect their order.

Seriously I have no special love for China and its rulers but I am at loss here to understand how what they are doing is oppression? Have they started ordering Muslims to not dress modestly? Or dress that is revealing and against their wishes?

 

[Radio Mirchi]

Stop trolling...

@waz @Deino

When you pass a comment on demolition of a religious structure saying "their country their rule", then its not trolling...
wonderful.

 

[Lil Mathew]

Bring me a verse from Quran that declares that wearing burqa and keeping abnormal beards is necessary for being Muslim .........

It may come as a shock to you, but early Muslim women played a very active role in the society, so much so that they accompanied Muslim men to the battlefields, and obviously those actions were bigger than worrying about wearing burqa or not. And interestingly Muhammad (Peace be upon him) married a business woman and the marriage proposal was sent by that woman herself.

What you are posting is State taking actions to safeguard its citizens, and keeping the harmony intact. If I was in China and state told me that you can go to mosque and pray but don't incite religious hatred I would respect their order.

Seriously I have no special love for China and its rulers but I am at loss here to understand how what they are doing is oppression? Have they started ordering Muslims to not dress modestly? Or dress that is revealing and against their wishes?

It's upon individuals what they want to belief??? You said your thoughts... An another religious man have different thoughts... He is also an individual with human rights... Religious freedom is very important...
I am an atheist and a communist from Kerala... I also like to see a world without any differences including religion... But I have no right to impose my ideas even to my mother or daughter... They have their views...

China treats all religions equally as long as they don't disrupt our social orders, so if something is banned, there must be a reason,China never indiscriminately cracks down on anything, Falungong was the case in point.

You can guide or force something to your citizens... You can guide your citizen about family planning, but China iforcefully impose one child policy... This is clearly human rights violation... Religious freedom is everyones human right, Chinese dictactorship iron grips on that here...

 

[beijingwalker]

You can guide or force something to your citizens... You can guide your citizen about family planning, but China iforcefully impose one child policy... This is clearly human rights violation... Religious freedom is everyones human right, Chinese dictactorship iron grips on that here...

One Child policy was history already now ,and drastic time for drastic measures, Some Indian politicians actually talk about similar policies to curb burgeoning population born into poverty everyday in India, but India's poor enforcement ability can never make anything happen.

Bring me a verse from Quran that declares that wearing burqa and keeping abnormal beards is necessary for being Muslim .........

It may come as a shock to you, but early Muslim women played a very active role in the society, so much so that they accompanied Muslim men to the battlefields, and obviously those actions were bigger than worrying about wearing burqa or not. And interestingly Muhammad (Peace be upon him) married a business woman and the marriage proposal was sent by that woman herself.

What you are posting is State taking actions to safeguard its citizens, and keeping the harmony intact. If I was in China and state told me that you can go to mosque and pray but don't incite religious hatred I would respect their order.

Seriously I have no special love for China and its rulers but I am at loss here to understand how what they are doing is oppression? Have they started ordering Muslims to not dress modestly? Or dress that is revealing and against their wishes?

China actually has several Muslim provinces, this one is a Muslim city in far west Ningxia Hui Muslim province, you can see how regular Chinese Muslims live in China .

Those Muslims live in northwest China which is supposed to be one of the poorest regions in the country but can you say that they live a bad life comparing to Muslims living other places around the world, actually from the video everyone can see that they live a very happy life.

 

[Lil Mathew]

One Child policy was history already now ,and drastic time for drastic measures, Some Indian politicians actually talk about similar policies to curb burgeoning population born into poverty everyday in India, but India's poor enforcement ability can never make anything happen.

Which politician you are talking about??? Individuals will decide how much children they want to have, government has no role in that... They can educate about family planning... Atmost they can cut govt subsidies or privileges...