Online religious services and activities led by foreigners to be banned in China

Jan 5, 2022 by Jill

from Evangelical Focus:

The new law states that Chinese Christians need a state permit to publish religious content, which “should not incite subversion or oppose the communist party leadership”.

The Chinese State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA), along with the Ministries of Industry and Information Technology, of Public Security, and of State Security, recently announced new restrictive measures for Christian online activities.

The measures, which will affect churches, organisations and individuals, will come into force on 1 March 2022.

According to the state-owned Global Times newspaper, the Chinese government aims to “standardize online religious information services and guarantee citizens’ freedom of religious belief” through these regulations that “are based on existent laws, including Cybersecurity Law and Regulations on Religious Affairs”.

“Not incite subversion or oppose the Chinese communist party leadership”

“Any Chinese organization or individual that operates online religious information services should submit application to provincial religious affairs departments”, said Chinese authorities.

Furthermore, the religious content of those online activities, “must not incite subversion of state power, oppose the Chinese communist party leadership, undermine national unity, or violate the principle of independence and self-management in religious undertakings”.

“Religious groups must not utilize the internet to induce minors to become religious, organize them, or force them to participate in religious activities”, they added.

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