11/29/2018 China (International Christian Concern) – Teachers and students in China, including foreigners, are not allowed to preach or promote their religion or speak of their religious beliefs. Municipal authorities in a city in China’s northern Hebei providence have been given strict instructions for how to handle students and teachers who share their religious beliefs.

In addition to training officials how to respond to the teaching of religious information, the Sichuan Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs committee publically shared that they have trained more than 100 officials and law enforcement officers to help control the churches in that providence.

One student, in Shandong providence, was asked to renounce their faith by local authorities. Another student, in the same providence, was told that if she continued to be a Christian that she would not be given her diploma. A medical student shared that they were pressured to renounce their faith and after refusing was told that she would be called in to have an “ideological conversation” in the future.

The new regulations, that went into effect on February 18, are targeting Christian students and making it harder for them at education institutions. The new laws have made it illegal for anyone under 18 to attend a church service or receive religious education. Hundreds of church leaders have spoken out against the new religious begging the government to stop its violent acts towards the church, but the church has seen little improvement.

For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].