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News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Faith As Sedition: China's National Security Law Targets Religious Freedom
Last Updated: As China intensifies its suppression of both the spiritual and moral autonomy of its citizens, the international community cannot afford to remain indifferent or silent. In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a notable speech advocating for the 'Sinicisation' of religions in China, essentially demanding that religious leaders and institutions strictly conform to state or party ideology—namely, socialism. Since then, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has implemented a wide array of legislative, bureaucratic, ideological, and technological measures to ensure that all forms of religious expression fall under its political control. Those failing to comply have faced persecution and prosecution. Recently, the CCP introduced regulations, effective from 1 May, which bar foreign missionaries from preaching or establishing religious organisations without explicit party approval. This development is part of a broader trend in Chinese governance, wherein any foreign involvement in religious matters—or domestic religious activities not aligned with party ideology—is framed as a national security threat, thereby leveraging nationalism to justify religious repression. According to an official white paper published in 2019, China had approximately 200 million religious adherents. The majority were Tibetan Buddhists, with 20 million Muslims, 38 million Protestant Christians, and 6 million Catholic Christians. The CCP's repressive policies towards Tibetan Buddhists and Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang are extensively documented, with some United Nations member states describing the latter as 'crimes against humanity'. The People's Republic of China's pervasive surveillance, the imposition of forced labour camps and ideological indoctrination centres disguised as 'vocational training schools', widespread imprisonment and torture, demographic manipulation, destruction of religious sites, and systematic cultural erasure have all attracted significant international criticism. Nevertheless, what is often overlooked by global human rights organisations is the more subtle deployment of legal mechanisms by the state to undermine and criminalise independent religious practices, all under the pretext of nationalist rhetoric. Article 36 of China's constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of religious belief, yet it tempers this by specifying that the state will safeguard only 'normal religious activities' and will not permit 'foreign forces' to exert influence over religious affairs. In 2015, the government enacted the National Security Law (NSL), similarly ambiguous in its language, which covered a broad spectrum of areas and required officials, corporations, organisations, and private individuals to collaborate with the CCP on 'national security' issues. The suite of legislation under this framework redefined national security to encompass not just military concerns but also economic, social, and cultural dimensions. The law's sweeping suspicion of foreign connections, especially regarding religious and cultural activities, legitimises state-led repression of religious groups considered untrustworthy by the party. This securitised approach, which interprets genuine spiritual beliefs and associations as acts of political subversion, poses a significant threat to communities such as Christian churches—often dependent on international networks for guidance and support—and the Uyghurs, whose spiritual and cultural links to Central Asia span centuries. A series of directives issued since the NSL's adoption in 2015 and Xi Jinping's advocacy for the 'Sinicisation of religion' have institutionalised rigorous and closely monitored adherence of religious practices to CCP doctrine. Significantly, in 2018, the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) consolidated the oversight of several agencies responsible for religious affairs into more centralised entities. For example, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the China Christian Council, and the State Administration for Religious Affairs—which had previously somewhat mitigated the state's absolute control over Christian activities—were placed under the authority of the United Front Work Department. In 2020, the National Security Law was extended to Hong Kong, a region previously insulated from the CCP's 'Sinicisation' policies due to the protections afforded by the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' framework. Over the subsequent five years, Hong Kong has experienced a concerted suppression of independent religious activities, including the raiding of churches, harassment of clergy, and the seizure of religious materials. The year the legislation was imposed on Hong Kong, authorities targeted the Good Neighbour North District Church for its support of pro-democracy demonstrators, conducting a raid and freezing the bank accounts of the church's charitable arm, its pastor, and his spouse. Likewise, in 2022, Catholic Bishop Emeritus Cardinal Joseph Zen was detained under the National Security Law, accused of 'collusion with foreign forces' due to his role as trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. This Fund provided financial assistance for the legal and medical needs of individuals involved in the widespread 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Cardinal Zen had also openly criticised a 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China, which purportedly allows the Pope to select bishops for China's Roman Catholic churches from a list proposed by Chinese authorities. Additionally, as a result of the pressure exerted by the National Security Law, many churches in Hong Kong discontinued the annual memorial mass for those killed during the post-Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. The Chinese Communist Party's anxiety regarding autonomous religious activities is closely linked to the emergence of a politically reformist segment within society, which has gradually expanded since Deng Xiaoping initiated economic liberalisation. As China embraced foreign investment and market-driven principles, a growing number of Chinese workers, entrepreneurs, academics, and students who studied overseas began to adopt alternative perspectives and challenge the CCP's ideological dominance. Religion, serving both as a vehicle for mass mobilisation and as a symbol of the party's pervasive control over Chinese society, inevitably mirrored these shifts. Consequently, the CCP came to perceive religion as a fundamental threat requiring immediate containment. As a result, the party's campaign to 'Sinicise religion'—enforced through a combination of legal-administrative mechanisms and rhetoric equating faith with subversion and external interference—has transformed religious practice into a demonstration of allegiance to the state rather than a matter of personal conviction. Under the pretext of national security, any activity the CCP deems to challenge its unassailable authority is deliberately misrepresented and harshly repressed. In doing so, the state not only criminalises individual expression and dissent but also systematically undermines the rich histories, cultures, and spiritual traditions that religious communities nurture. As China intensifies its suppression of both the spiritual and moral autonomy of its citizens, the international community cannot afford to remain indifferent or silent. Global action is imperative before these vulnerable communities are eradicated by the Chinese authorities. The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : China Religious freedom sedition view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 19, 2025, 15:43 IST News opinion Right Word | Faith As Sedition: China's National Security Law Targets Religious Freedom Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
France foreign minister says strike on Gaza church 'unacceptable' - War on Gaza
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot Thursday slammed as "unacceptable" an Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed killed two people. "Unacceptable attack in Gaza against the Church of the Holy Family, historically under the protection of France," he said, alluding to a 16th-centrury accord for France to protect Catholic Christians in the Holy Land. "The church has been sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including some children with disabilities," Fadel Naem, the acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the wounded, told AP. At least two people were in critical condition, and others injured included one child with disabilities, two women, and an elderly person, Naem added. Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, its military has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, including places of worship such as historic mosques and churches that are central to Palestine's cultural and religious heritage. According to figures published by Gaza's government media office in April, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed more than 1,000 mosques and three churches – in what many observers see as a deliberate assault on sites of worship. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German president welcomes Pope Leo XIV as a 'bridge-builder'
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier conveyed his warmest blessings to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV in a message on Thursday. "The people of Germany, especially Catholic Christians, look forward to your pontificate with great expectation and heartfelt affection, Steinmeier wrote. Pope Leo is taking on an important spiritual and moral responsibility in a time marked by discord and profound global challenges, he continued. "May your personal character as a bridge-builder between the United States and the countries of Latin America help you to give voice to the concerns and hopes of people throughout the world," Steinmeier added.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why did Cardinal Robert Prevost choose the name Pope Leo XIV? Know its significance
Image credits: Getty Images The 267th Pope of the Catholic Church has been elected. Cardinal Robert Prevost is the new leader of almost 1.4 billion Catholic Christians spread across the globe. The 69-year-old pope has taken the name Pope Leo XIV , as announced by a senior cardinal to the crowds at St. Peter's Square. Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary, has a history of serving the church by ministering in Peru and leading the Vatican's office of bishops. The new pope has also made history as the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church . The Pope's baptismal name was revealed after the traditional announcement of 'Habemus Papam'- 'We have a Pope' from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The first words spoken by the new Pope to the excited and awaiting people were 'Peace be with all you.' Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far Why did Cardinal Robert Prevost choose the name Pope Leo XIV ? Image credits: Getty Images In a conversation with The Independent, Catholic priest and blogger Ed Tomlinson shared that the choice of Cardinal Prevost's papal name had a long history. 'The papal name Leo unsurprisingly, shows a Pope who is going to be strong during a time of crisis, historically,' he said. The last pope who chose the same name was more than 100 years ago. Pope Leo XIII led the Church from 1878 to 1903. The first pope who chose the name, Pope Leo the Great , led the church from 440-461. When one thinks of the name Leo in Christianity, they are referring to Pope Leo the Great. He is known to have been brave even in front of Attila, a godless pagan who in the summer of A.D. 452, sacked, looted, murdered and pillaged through Italy, getting closer to Rome. At the time, Leo was the bishop of Rome and armed with a Gospel, he marched into the camp of the Huns and negotiated peace with their leader, Atilla. Additionally, he taught and led the Council of Chalcedon to affirm that Jesus was one fully divine and one fully human nature and that he was inseparably united in one Christ. Why does the papal name matter? The chosen name offers a glimpse into the vision the new pope has for the church. Had Cardinal Prevost taken the name Pope Francis II, it would have signified him following in the footsteps of the late pope, who focused on pastoral care and the marginalised. Pope Francis himself had suggested that his successor could be John XXIV, referencing the pope of the Second Vatican Council era. Pius is another frequently chosen papal name, and it indicates a traditionalist ideology. Thus, the papal name matters, and it shows the way the church is soon to be led.
Hans India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Making ethical sense of moral values
Ethical and moral values vary sharply, across religions, regions, cultures and over time. Abortion, for example, is prohibited for Catholic Christians, but the law permits it in India, no matter what religion one is professing. Morality is the standard by which we judge other people - Oscar Wilde. My association with the areas of ethics and morals, especially in the domain of governance, began with a request by K. Padmanabhaiah, a retired civil servant, now serving as the Chairman of the Court of Governors of the Administrative Staff College of India, to take lessons for civil service aspirants. After having taken some classes, I realised how difficult it was for students, to put the material together. I hit upon the idea of compiling my lessons into a book. That is how my book (Ethics in Governance – Resolution of Dilemmas with Case Studies) came to be published. Sometime later, I was invited by Dr. B. Somaraju, eminent cardiologist, to become a Member of the Ethics Committee of the CARE Foundation, set up by CARE Hospital, where he was working. I accepted and had firsthand exposure to the field of professional ethics and morals vis-à-vis practice of medicine, and the manufacture, and marketing, of drugs and pharmaceuticals. The Chairman was a former High Court Judge and the members brought to the table rich experience from different fields of expertise in medicine. The deliberations in the meetings were lively, animated and informative. It was a truly eye opening experience for someone new to the subject. Ethics, whose dictionary meaning is the philosophical study of moral values and rules relating to what is right and what is wrong, is clearly an abstract discipline, its precepts not amenable to verification/validation by the scientific tools of experiment, observation and inference, as first postulated by Sir Francis Bacon. It may also be defined as a field that deals with questions of organizing one's thoughts, words and deeds in a manner that conforms to the settled norms of societal values. Easily the most interesting of the activities I have undertaken after superannuating from service, has been lecturing on the subject of ethics in governance to various groups, including those preparing for Civil Services examinations. Recently, while preparing material for a lecture on the subject to a group of officials from different departments of the government of Gujarat, I looked at the question, of the application of the values of ethics and morals, to two issues; namely, the tariff war declared by US President Donald Trump, and the terrorist attack at Pahalgam. The aggressive tariff war triggered by Trump's decisions has sent shock waves through global markets, triggering panic among businesses and consumers, and escalating trade tensions between the US, Canada, Mexico, China, and even Europe. Quite obviously, domestic industries in the US are full of praise for what has been done since most of their products stand to benefit with foreign brands of the same products becoming more expensive. The move is also expected to raise over $ one trillion in revenue over the next decade for the country, leading to a spurt in domestic investments. On the other hand, there are experts who argue that prices of a range of imported goods will go up, from clothing and coffee to alcohol and electronics, pointing out that import of such goods may decline, increasing the cost of domestic products in the same areas. While that may be the scene within the US, as far as India is concerned, it is believed that sectors such as IT and software, pharma, textiles, automobile industry, and agriculture may be hit adversely. Clearly, so far as President Trump is concerned, at least in his own belief, his country and its citizens stand to benefit from his initiatives. That there are those, who believe quite the opposite, is another matter altogether. And if industries, workers, and consumers, in other countries suffer, it has to be accepted as a fallout that was inevitable. Evidently, the ethical implications of Trump's action are a function of the persuasion of those analysing them. Coming to the Pahalgam incidents, terrorism is generally considered morally wrong, as civilians are often indiscriminately targeted and fear and violence are used as instruments for the achievement of political goals. There are, on the other hand, those who argue that terrorism can be justified in specific circumstances, such as weak minorities being oppressed and ill-treated by a tyrannical majority. Another significant aspect of ethical and moral values is that they vary sharply, across religions, regions, cultures and over time. Abortion, for example, is prohibited for Catholic Christians, but the law permits it in India, no matter what religion one is professing. Likewise, a Muslim can take more than one wife, while polygamy is not permissible under the Hindu law in India. Another example is that of prohibition of the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages. It was illegal for a short while in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. But, today, it is not so in either Andhra Pradesh or Telangana. Even at the time when prohibition was imposed in the first instance in Andhra Pradesh, it was not in force in the neighbouring Karnataka. Drinking or possessing liquor, therefore, can be legal or otherwise, depending on the time and place. Clearly, as the saying goes, what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander. In daily life, white colour has customarily been associated with knowledge, purity, good and right. And, black, on the other hand, with ignorance, contamination, bad and wrong. Most day-to-day experiences in life, however, lie in the area between the two extremes, namely, the grey area. There is no such thing as pure white or pure black. The same is the case, for example, with probity, and competence. They usually coexist in most people. We often find that thoroughly honest people are incompetent. And very efficient people are persons of doubtful integrity. While on the subject, I recall the case of a senior officer who was intending to suspend a Tahsildar. When a friend asked him why he intended to punish a person who was obviously very clean and honest, the officer's reply was that the Tahsildar was so incompetent, that his entire salary was illegal gratification! A somewhat similar approach is called for towards the impact of development effort on natural resources. Development activities, such as transport, industry, and agriculture invariably impact adversely upon the quantity and quality of natural resources such as land, water and air. We cannot abandon such imperatives in order to preserve natural resources. On the other hand, it is our duty to future generations, and posterity, to defend, protect, and preserve those resources. The grey area again! It demands a sensible and wise balance between use of resources and their preservation. To end this rather serious discussion on a lighter note, here is what I heard about the Professor of Ethics telling the student of Art. 'You have to draw the line somewhere!' (The writer was formerly Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)
