ICC Note:
In northwest China, government officials banned all Christian practices that do not occur in a state-approved church. When questioned, officials did not try to hide or dispute the rulings. They confirmed that all Catholics and Protestants have to worship in state-approved churches. Officials justify such an egregious violation of religious freedom by calling the bans “anti-terrorism” measures. Religious bans like this one will protect government officials who raid or close churches. Already, house churches are closing in areas affected by the new rules. This is a concerning development that could spread across China.    
2/24/2017 China (Radio Free Asia) – Chinese authorities in the restive northwestern region of Xinjiang have banned all Christian activities not linked to state-approved churches, launching a region-wide crackdown on unofficial worship in the name of “anti-terrorism” measures, RFA has learned.
Underground Catholic churches and Protestant house churches have been warned to halt all activity throughout the region, a religious affairs official confirmed on Thursday.
“Yes, that’s right,” said the official, who answered the phone at the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region government’s religious and ethnic minority affairs bureau.
“They all have to worship in [an officially approved] church,” the official said, indicating that both Catholics and Protestants are affected by the new measures.
 
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