China is a multi-religious country. The main religious beliefs in China are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity. China citizens can freely choose, express their beliefs and show their religious identity. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 100 million followers of various religions, more than 85,000 places for religious activities, about 300,000 religious staff and more than 3,000 religious groups in China. Religious organizations have also opened 74 religious colleges and universities to train religious personnel.
Buddhism has a history of two thousand years in China. At present, there are more than 3000 Buddhist monasteries1.3000 in China, with about 200000 monks and nuns, including 20000 Tibetan monks and nuns1.2000 living buddhas1.7000 and more than 3000 monasteries. Bali Buddhism has nearly 10,000 monks and elders, and there are 1600 monasteries.
-Taoism originated in China and has a history of more than 1,700 years. There are more than 0/500 Taoist temples in China, and there are more than 25,000 people on main roads and Kundao.
-Islam was introduced to China in the 7th century. Islam is the mass belief of Hui, Uygur and other 10 ethnic minorities in China. The total population of these ethnic minorities is about180,000, with more than 30,000 mosques and more than 40,000 imams and imams.
-Catholicism was introduced into China several times since the 7th century, 1840 was introduced on a large scale after the Opium War. There are about 4 million Catholics in China, about 4,000 teachers and staff, and more than 4,600 churches and clubs.
-Christianity (Protestantism) was introduced to China at the beginning of19th century, and it was introduced on a large scale after the Opium War. There are about 6,543,800,000 Christians, 6,543,800 priests, 6,543,800 churches and 25,000 simple activity places (meeting places) in China.
In China, national religious groups include the Chinese Buddhist Association, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Chinese Islamic Association, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Chinese Catholic Bishops' College, the China Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee and china christian council. Religious organizations elect leaders and leading bodies according to their respective statutes.
Religious organizations in China independently handle educational affairs, and set up religious colleges, print and distribute religious classics, publish religious publications and run social welfare undertakings as needed. China, like many countries in the world, implements the principle of separation of church and state, and does not give religious education to students in national education. Some institutions of higher learning and research institutions carry out religious teaching and research. In religious colleges run by various religious organizations, religious professional education is carried out according to the needs of various religions. Normal educational activities carried out by religious personnel, all normal religious activities carried out in religious activity places and believers' own homes in accordance with religious habits, such as worshipping Buddha, chanting scriptures, worshipping, praying, preaching, mass, baptism, monasticism, fasting, religious festivals, final mourning and mourning, are taken care of by religious organizations and believers and protected by law, and no one can interfere.
The "Cultural Revolution" from 1966 to 1976 caused disastrous damage to all aspects of China society, including religion. In the process of correcting the mistakes of the "Cultural Revolution", governments at all levels in China have also made great efforts to restore and implement the policy of freedom of religious belief, rehabilitated the unjust, false and wrong cases for religious believers, and reopened places for religious activities. Since 1980s, Christianity in China has repaired and built about 600 churches every year. By the end of 1996, more than 80,000 copies of Bible/kloc-0 were printed and distributed, and various tax-free concessions were granted. Since 1983, china christian council has published more than 8 million volumes of hymns. From 1958 to 1995, Catholicism in China successively elected 126 bishops. Over the past decade, more than 900 young priests have been trained and consecrated by Catholicism in China. More than 3000 people attend Sunday worship in Chongwenmen Church in Beijing every week. There are four mass stations in Nantang, a Catholic church in Beijing, with more than 2,000 people attending every Sunday, one of which is an English mass specially held for foreigners in Beijing.
In the long historical development, China's religious culture has become a part of China's traditional ideological culture. Religious people in China have a tradition of patriotism and love of religion. The China Municipal Government supports and encourages religious circles to unite with religious believers and actively participate in national construction. All religions advocate serving the society and benefiting the people, such as Buddhism's "solemn territory, happy family ties", Catholicism and Christianity's "respecting God and benefiting the people", Taoism's "kindness and harmony, helping others" and Islam's "auspicious celebration of two generations".
In China, all religions have equal status and live in harmony, and no religious disputes have occurred; Religious and non-religious citizens also respect each other, unite and live in harmony. This is not only due to the influence of the spirit of inclusiveness in China's long-standing traditional ideology and culture, but also because after the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), the China government formulated and implemented the policy of freedom of religious belief and established the relationship between politics and religion in line with the national conditions.
Second, the legal protection of freedom of religious belief.
China citizens' right to freedom of religious belief is protected by the Constitution and laws.
In the Constitution of People's Republic of China (PRC), freedom of religious belief is a basic right of citizens. Article 36 of the Constitution stipulates: "The people of China and citizens of China have freedom of religious belief." No state organ, social organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in or not believe in religion, and shall not discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in religion. "The state protects normal religious activities ..." It also stipulates: "No one may use religion to engage in activities that disrupt social order, harm citizens' health or interfere with the national education system." "Religious groups and religious affairs are not dominated by foreign forces. "
China's law on regional ethnic autonomy, general principles of civil law, education law, labor law, compulsory education law, election law of people's congresses, organization law of villagers' committees, advertising law and other laws also stipulate that citizens have the right to vote and stand for election regardless of their religious beliefs; The lawful property of religious groups is protected by law; Education is separated from religion, and citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, enjoy equal opportunities for education according to law; People of all ethnic groups should respect each other's languages, customs and religious beliefs; Citizens are not discriminated against in employment because of different religious beliefs; Advertisements and trademarks must not contain content that discriminates against ethnic groups and religions.
The China Municipal Government has promulgated the Regulations on the Administration of Places for Religious Activities to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of places for religious activities. According to the regulations, the venues for religious activities are managed by the venue management organizations independently, and their legitimate rights and interests and normal religious activities in the venues are protected by law, and no organization or individual may infringe upon or interfere with them. Infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of religious activities places will bear legal responsibility. Religious activities in places for religious activities must also abide by laws and regulations.
The Government of China has also promulgated the Regulations on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners in People's Republic of China (PRC), which respects the freedom of religious belief of foreigners in China and protects the friendly exchanges and cultural and academic exchanges between foreigners and religious circles in China. Foreigners can participate in religious activities in religious activity sites in China, give lectures and preach at the invitation of religious groups at or above the provincial level, hold religious activities attended by foreigners in places recognized by people's governments at or above the county level, invite religious personnel in China to hold religious ceremonies such as baptism, wedding, funeral and Dojo, and bring religious printed matter, religious audio-visual products and other religious articles for their own use into the country. Foreigners engaged in religious activities in China shall abide by the laws and regulations of China.
The legal protection of citizens' right to freedom of religious belief in China is basically consistent with the main contents of relevant international instruments and conventions. Freedom of religion or belief is a basic human right in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Citizens have the freedom to choose their religion or belief, and no one may be discriminated against because of their religion or belief. Freedom of religious worship and belief assembly, freedom of establishing and maintaining some places, freedom of editing and distributing publications on religion or belief, freedom of celebrating religious festivals and holding religious ceremonies according to religion or belief, and promotion and protection of the rights of ethnic, racial, religious and linguistic minorities. , in China laws and regulations are clearly defined and implemented.
According to the laws of China, while enjoying the right to freedom of religious belief, citizens must bear the obligations stipulated by law. In China, anyone, any group, including any religion, should safeguard the interests of the people, the dignity of the law, the unity of the country and the unity of the nationalities. This is in line with the relevant contents of United Nations human rights instruments and conventions. The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief states: "The freedom to manifest one's choice of religion or belief can only be restricted within the scope prescribed by law and is necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morality or the basic rights and freedoms of others. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also points out: "Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement, discrimination, hostility or violence should be stopped by law." Citizens who believe in religion and citizens who do not believe in religion are equal before the law. This is also the basic requirement of a modern civilization and a country ruled by law.
Different countries have different historical cultures and national conditions, which determines that the practice of protecting freedom of religious belief in different countries will have different characteristics. While emphasizing the protection of freedom of religious belief, China also emphasized the protection of freedom of non-religious belief, placing them in an equally important position, thus embodying freedom of religious belief in a complete sense. This is a more adequate and comprehensive protection of citizens' basic rights.
The government of China believes that religious belief is a private matter of citizens. Building a prosperous, strong, democratic and civilized socialist modern country and safeguarding national sovereignty and dignity are the common goals and fundamental interests of people of all ethnic groups in China, including religious and non-religious people. Therefore, religious and non-religious people can achieve unity and cooperation in politics and respect each other in their beliefs.
Religion should adapt to its society, which is the universal law of its existence and development. The people of China are building a modern socialist country with China characteristics, and the China government advocates that religion should adapt to it. This adaptation does not require citizens to give up their religious beliefs or change the basic teachings of religion, but requires religion to operate within the scope of law and adapt to the development of society and the progress of civilization. This is in line with the fundamental interests of religious believers and religions themselves.
Since the 1980s, some cult organizations have appeared in some parts of China, carrying out illegal and criminal activities under the banner of religion. Leaders of cult organizations distort religious teachings, create cults, deceive the masses, resist the implementation of state laws and decrees, and incite the overthrow of the government; Or use superstition, pretend to be a ghost, causing death or injury; Or gather people to commit fornication and defraud money, which seriously endangers people's normal life and production order. The broad masses of the people and religious figures deeply hate this. China judicial organs punish such criminals who seriously endanger the public interests in accordance with the law, precisely to safeguard public interests and legal dignity, and to better protect citizens' right to freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities. China judicial organs punish crimes according to law, which has nothing to do with religious beliefs, and no one in China is punished for religious beliefs. In today's world, no country ruled by law will tolerate such illegal and criminal activities under the banner of religion.
Three. Judicial and administrative guarantee and supervision of freedom of religious belief
In terms of judicial guarantee, China has clear penalties for violations of citizens' right to freedom of religious belief. For example, Article 251 of the Criminal Law stipulates: "State functionaries who illegally deprive citizens of their freedom of religious belief and infringe upon the customs and habits of ethnic minorities, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than two years or criminal detention." In the Decision on the Criteria for Filing Crimes of Infringement on Citizens' Democratic Rights, Personal Rights and Dereliction of Duty, the People's Procuratorate also stipulates that state functionaries who illegally deprive others of their legitimate freedom of religious belief, such as interfering with other people's normal religious activities or forcing believers to quit religion, forcing citizens to believe in a certain sect, and illegally closing or destroying legal religious sites and other religious facilities, should file a case. In recent years, the judicial departments in China have tried several cases that violated the relevant state laws and seriously hurt the religious feelings of religious believers, and punished those responsible.
In terms of administrative guarantee, governments at all levels in China have set up religious affairs departments to manage and supervise the implementation of religious laws and regulations, and specifically implement and implement the policy of freedom of religious belief. The religious affairs department of the government does not interfere in the internal affairs of religious groups and places of religious activities.
Like some countries in the world, religious groups and venues in China need to register with the government according to law. An application for registration of a place for religious activities should meet the basic requirements: having a fixed place and name; There are religious citizens who often participate in religious activities; There is a management organization composed of religious citizens; There are religious personnel who preside over religious activities or personnel who meet the requirements of various religions; There are management regulations; Have legitimate economic income. Government departments should suspend or temporarily register places for religious activities that do not fully meet the conditions for establishment or have some outstanding problems in management. For illegal occupation of land, violation of urban planning laws and regulations, the establishment of religious facilities without permission, etc., do not have the registration conditions; Fake religious personnel set up without authorization; Government departments shall not register places where superstitious activities such as "exorcising ghosts" are carried out with religious signs. Once a religious activity site is registered according to law, it will gain legal status and protect its legitimate rights and interests; If their rights and interests are violated, the management organization of religious activity places has the right to appeal to the relevant administrative organs of the government, and even apply to the people's court for administrative and legal protection. According to religious custom, Christians hold religious activities such as prayer and bible reading in their own homes (China Christian custom calls them "family gatherings") without registration.
People's congresses at all levels in China are the organs for people to exercise power, and political consultative conferences play an important role in the country's political and social life, and supervise the implementation of policies and legal provisions on freedom of religious belief. In people's congresses and political consultative conferences at all levels, there are nearly 654.38+700,000 religious figures as deputies and members. On behalf of religious circles, they participate in the discussion of state affairs and important social issues at NPC and CPPCC meetings, and put forward opinions, suggestions, criticisms or proposals on government work involving religion. From 1993 to 1996 alone, the the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs has replied to more than 50 NPC deputies' suggestions and CPPCC proposals.
Fourth, support independent religious undertakings.
China's religious undertakings are managed by religious groups, teaching staff and believers in China, and China's religious affairs and religious groups are not dominated by foreign forces. According to the Constitution and laws, the government of China supports the cause of religious independence in China.
China's policy of religious independence is a historic choice made by religious believers in China in the struggle of China people against colonialism, imperialist aggression and slavery. 1840 After the Opium War, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. In this process, Western Christianity and Catholicism were used by colonialism and imperialism as tools to invade China, and some western missionaries played disgraceful roles.
-Participated in opium trafficking and planned the opium war of 1840 when Britain invaded China. /kloc-In the 9th century, Guo, a British Christian missionary and a German missionary, took part in opium trafficking to China during his tenure in the East India Company. Some missionaries also encouraged the western powers to force the Qing government to open its coastal ports by force, claiming that "only war can open China to Christ" and directly participated in the British military activities of invading China.
-/kloc-participated in Eight-Nation Alliance's war of aggression against China in 0/900. A group of missionaries acted as guides, translators, intelligence personnel, etc. Participate in killing civilians and looting money. Mark Twain, a famous American writer, said that missionaries "squeezed a fine of 13 times from the poor farmers in China, so they, their wives and innocent children will inevitably starve to death slowly, and the resulting killing price can be used to spread the gospel".
-Participating in the planning and drafting of unequal treaties with China. For example, 1842 treaty of nanking signed by China and Britain, 1844 Wang Xia treaty signed by China and America, 1858 Tianjin treaty signed by China and America, 1860 Beijing treaty signed by China and France, and so on. Missionaries from some western countries directly participated in the planning and drafting. These unequal treaties have stipulated that western Catholic and Christian missionaries can rent land at trading ports to build their own churches, which are protected by local officials. "Missionaries can rent and buy land in various provinces and build (churches) at will." China local officials "must be kind to those who preach in the mainland", and China officials are not allowed to ban religious believers in China.
-Enjoy "extraterritorial jurisdiction" that is not governed by China laws. Western powers protect their missionaries in China according to consular jurisdiction. Under the "extraterritoriality", some western missionaries, backed by imperialist aggression, went deep into China to build churches, set up parishes, occupy land and oppress officials and people. These missionaries also arbitrarily extended "extraterritoriality" to China believers and interfered with the administration of justice.
-Strengthening the rule of western powers in China under the pretext of "religious plan". Because some western missionaries did evil by virtue of unequal treaties, which aroused public anger and triggered conflicts and disputes between Chinese and western missionaries, it was called "religious plan" in history. From 1840 to 1900, there are more than 400 "lesson plans" in China. Western countries used the "religious plan" as an excuse to exert military or political pressure on the government of China, put forward all kinds of unreasonable demands, forced reparations, indiscriminately killed innocent people, and even used it as an excuse to launch a war of aggression. Among them, the western powers forced the Qing government to execute 20 people in China and exile 25 people in the "Tianjin Religious Case" in 1870.
-Obstructing and opposing China's anti-fascist struggle and people's revolution. After Japan invaded northeast China, the Holy See took the lead in publicly recognizing the pseudo-"Manchukuo" fostered by Japan, and sent its "Pontifical Representative" to take the position of actually supporting Japan's invasion of China. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, some western missionaries incited religious people to hate the people's revolution and even organized armed forces to help the Kuomintang fight the civil war.
-Hostile to New China and planning sabotage activities. After the founding of New China, the Holy See issued many "encyclicals" to incite Christians to be hostile to the new people's regime.
Western Catholicism and Christianity were used to play these disgraceful roles in China's modern history. At the same time, they also manipulated and controlled the church in China, making the church in China a vassal of western Protestantism and churches. The clergy, priests and most believers in China are in a helpless position. In the 1940s, among the 20 Catholic archbishops in China, 17 were of foreign nationality, and only 3 were of China nationality. 143 diocese, there are more foreign bishops 1 10, and only more than 20 Chinese bishops.
Some people in the Christian circles in China have long advocated getting rid of the control of foreign priests and began to engage in the activities of Christian self-supporting organizations in China. However, in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal old China, it was impossible for the China Church to be truly independent.
1949, People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded, ending the history of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, thus providing historical conditions for Catholicism and Christianity in China to achieve independence and self-management. 1In July, 950, 40 religious leaders, including Wu Yaozong, published the "Three-Self Declaration" of "Ways for China Christianity to Work hard in the Construction of New China", which showed that China Christians supported the new China, got rid of the control of imperialist forces, and realized the autonomy, self-support and autobiography of the church in China. 1950 September, 1527 Christian leaders signed the "three-self declaration". In the following three or four years, more than 400,000 Christians signed this document, accounting for two-thirds of the Christians in the country at that time. Since then, Christianity in China has embarked on the road of "three selves".
1950, 1 1 In June, more than 500 Catholics in Guangyuan County, Sichuan Province issued the Declaration on the Movement of Catholic Self-reliance and Innovation, advocating breaking off all relations with imperialism and establishing a new church with autonomy, autobiography and self-support. This statement was echoed by the National Catholic Presbyterian Church. Although the Vatican has repeatedly taken political actions hostile to the new China, Catholicism in China reported an elected deputy bishop and two bishops to the Vatican in 1957 and 1958. However, the Vatican's threat of "excessive punishment" has greatly hurt the feelings of Catholics in China. Since then, Catholics in China have firmly embarked on the road of choosing their own bishops and running their own churches. In faith, Catholicism in China is consistent with Catholicism all over the world; In church management, all internal affairs are decided by the Chinese Catholic Church.
For decades, Christianity and Catholicism in China have adhered to the principle of independence and self-management, which has been recognized and supported by the majority of religious believers, and has also enabled the healthy development of churches and religious activities. At present, the total number of Christians in China is 14 1949 times. There are 1 15 Catholic parishes in China, all of which are presided over by Chinese bishops or rectors.
Religions in China insist on independence and self-management, and at the same time actively communicate and associate with religious organizations from all over the world on the basis of equality and friendship. The door of China is always open to foreign religious organizations and individuals who are friendly with China, respect China's sovereignty and respect China's religious independence. Christianity and Catholicism in China have established friendly relations with churches in many countries in the world. 1991February, the China Council of Churches officially joined the World Federation of Christian Churches. Catholicism in China also sent representatives to attend some international religious conferences such as the Fifth International Conference on Religion and Peace and the World Catholic Youth Congress. In recent years, the Church of China has sent a considerable number of overseas students and hired foreign teachers and scholars to give lectures in domestic theological colleges. The international friendly exchanges between Buddhism, Taoism and Islam in China are also expanding day by day.
The China government has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace and is willing to improve its relations with the Vatican. However, two basic conditions must be met: first, the Vatican must sever the so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan Province Province, and recognize that the government of People's Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legitimate government of China, and Taiwan Province Province is an inalienable part of China's territory; Second, the Vatican must not interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of religious affairs. The relationship between China and the Vatican is first of all a state relationship. Only when the state relationship is improved can we talk about religious issues. No matter whether China-Vatican relations improve or not, the China government will, as always, support China Catholics to hold high the banner of patriotism, adhere to the policy of running their own churches independently and choose their own bishops.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) protects the right of freedom of religious belief of ethnic minorities.
China is a unified multi-ethnic country. The government of China implements the ethnic policy of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all ethnic groups, and respects and protects the rights and customs of the freedom of religious belief of ethnic minorities. The Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) on Regional Ethnic Autonomy stipulates: "The organs of self-government of ethnic autonomous areas guarantee the freedom of religious belief of citizens of all ethnic groups."
The China Municipal Government is committed to promoting the economic, cultural and educational progress in ethnic minority areas, improving the material and cultural living standards of the vast number of ethnic minorities, including religious believers, and paying special attention to respecting their religious beliefs and protecting their cultural heritage. Investigate, collect, sort out, study and publish the cultural heritage and folk art of all ethnic groups, including religious culture. The state has invested a lot of money in the maintenance of temples and religious facilities with important historical and cultural values in ethnic minority areas.
Tibet is a national autonomous area in China. Most Tibetans believe in Tibetan Buddhism. 195 1 Since peaceful liberation, especially since the reform and opening up, citizens' right to freedom of religious belief has been fully implemented in Tibet. Since the 1980s, the central government has allocated more than 200 million yuan to Tibet for the maintenance and restoration of the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Tashilhunpo Temple and Sanye Temple. The state has also allocated special funds to support the Buddhist community in compiling and publishing important Tibetan Buddhist classics such as the Tripitaka, and to support the Buddhist community in setting up an advanced Tibetan Buddhist college in China and a Tibetan Buddhist college in Lhasa respectively.
At present, there are more than 700 places for Buddhist activities in Tibet, where more than 46,000 monks and nuns live. Almost all religious people have small prayer flags or shrines in their homes, and more than one million religious people come to Lhasa to worship Buddha every year. Religious people engaged in Buddhist activities can be seen everywhere in Tibet, with banners hanging everywhere and Manidui engraved with Buddhist scriptures. The annual religious activities such as the Snowdon Festival and the traditional religious activities such as Rinpoche in the Year of the Horse and Namtso in the Year of the Sheep have been carried out normally and have been respected by all walks of life.
The reincarnation of living Buddha is a unique way of inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism, which has been recognized and respected by the state. 1992, the State Council Religious Affairs Bureau approved the 17th Karmapa Living Buddha to succeed him. 1995, China completed the search and identification of the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, as well as the compilation and bed-sitting of the 11th Panchen Lama. These measures fully show that people in Xizang's right to freedom of religious belief is respected and protected, and it has won the support and support of the broad masses of religious believers in Tibet.
In view of the special position of the living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism in the social life of Tibet in history, China gradually brought the reincarnation of the living Buddha into the management of the central government and national laws and regulations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 1792, the Qing government issued a decree to draw lots from the golden jar for the living Buddha above Hutuktu, which was later customized by history and fixed as a religious ceremony of Tibetan Buddhism. The reincarnation of a living Buddha identified by the Golden Bottle Draw must be reported to the central government for approval before he can formally succeed to the throne. A few special circumstances need to be reported to the central government for approval before they can be exempted from drawing lots. "Drawing lots from the golden urn" not only safeguarded the supreme authority of the central government and national sovereignty, but also embodied Sakyamuni's "legal judgment" on religion. From 1792 to this century, in the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddha, more than 70 reincarnated soul children were identified by the Golden Bottle and reported to the Central Committee for approval. Therefore, the reincarnation of the living Buddha approved by the central government is a religious ceremony and historical customization of Tibetan Buddhism and the key to maintaining the normal order of Tibetan Buddhism.
The government of China respects and protects the freedom of religious belief and customs of Muslims. The relevant government departments have provided various services for the Muslim pilgrimage, which has been well received by Muslims. Since 1980s, more than 40,000 Muslims from China have made a pilgrimage to Mecca. There are more than 23,000 mosques and 29,000 religious staff in Xinjiang, which meets the needs of religious believers to live a religious life. The China government also respects the eating habits and funeral ceremonies of ethnic minorities who believe in Islam, formulates laws and regulations on the production of halal food, and opens Muslim cemeteries. In recent years, the judicial organs in China have tried cases in which publications have seriously hurt the religious feelings of Muslims, thus safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Muslims.
The government of China resolutely opposes ethnic separatism that uses religious fanaticism to split people, split the country and undermine national unity, and resolutely opposes the use of religion for illegal and terrorist activities, resolutely safeguards national unity and social stability in ethnic minority areas, and protects the normal religious activities of ethnic minority believers.
The Government of China respects the principles recognized by the international community in the field of religious belief, and believes that these principles must be combined with the specific situation of each country and implemented through the domestic laws of each country. The Government of China opposes confrontation in the religious field and interference in other countries' internal affairs by religion.
Facts have fully proved that since the founding of New China, especially in the past 20 years of reform and opening up, the human rights situation of the people in China has been greatly improved, and the right to freedom of religious belief has been fully respected and protected. The Government of China will, as always, make greater efforts in safeguarding human rights, including protecting freedom of religious belief.
People's Republic of China (PRC) the State Council press office
1997 10-Beijing