China
China’s constitution says that citizens ‘enjoy freedom of religious belief’, but the reality can be very different.
Five official religions are allowed (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism) and the official bodies for each are carefully regulated and face restrictions. Penalties are often imposed upon those who practice their faith outside these entities.
The cost of practising religion outside government-sanctioned bodies includes discrimination, fines, confiscation and destruction of property, arrest, torture, imprisonment and forced labour and, in some cases, execution. Groups practising different religions are affected in varying ways.
Chinese law permits official, registered churches to function, but the face restrictions on: training of clergy appointment of bishops location of venues publication of literature finances and relationships with religious groups abroad. As a result of the control exercised by the atheistic government, most Christians in China choose to worship in unregistered churches.
Unregistered churches are less likely to have a building and often meet in homes. In some areas unregistered congregations meet freely without harassment from authorities. In other areas Christians have been harassed, humiliated, fined, tortured, imprisoned and subjected to forced labour.
In the past year, there has been an increasing crackdown on any form of dissent, including human rights defenders, Christian lawyers, writers and religious leaders.