ADHRRF – According to the recent information from mainland China, on the morning of March 6, 2018, the Luoshan County Government of Xinyang City, Henan Province, held a special conference on cracking down on religious beliefs. It stipulated that from the date of the meeting to May 13, a full investigation to probe all believers in this region would be carried out and a reporting system would be set up. As of May 13, the authorities had found out and mastered the information of hundreds of believers.
According to insiders, at the meeting, the authorities categorized all house gatherings as illegal and demanded to eradicate all. The time limit for investigating and reporting was more than two month from March 6 to May 13. During this period, the authorities would conduct a thorough investigation of all believers. Once they find “illegal gatherings,” they will arrest all practitioners and ban the gatherings. Besides, a reporting system would be set up. Those who are exposed to withhold the required information must be held accountable. Believers whose information is already mastered will be persuaded to give up their belief. Those who refuse to do so must register with relevant governmental authorities and go to churches designated by the government. The gatherings in Three-Self Churches must be conducted under the supervision and leadership of the United Front Work Department or religious administration departments.
It is learned that after the meeting all grassroots government departments of the county held several confidential meetings. The public security officers personally investigated believers in God one by one. Drop-in investigations were conducted house by house in rural areas, and a probe into each community was adopted in towns. Even the left-behind children were investigated and are not allowed to believe in God. Now the information of hundreds of believers in the county has been investigated and mastered.
At present, in Luoshan County, banners and slogans of resisting religious freedom can be found in streets and outside all work units, for example, “No proselytizing in public places,” “Resolutely resist the infiltration of foreign forces taking advantage of religion,” “Communist party members mustn’t participate in religious activities,” “Educate and guide minors not to participate in religious activities,” etc.
A local believer sighed with deep emotion: “We have never seen such massive propaganda campaign before. All the streets are full of slogans against religious beliefs. It can be seen that the CCP’s persecution of religion is escalating and has come out into the open. The bitter winter of religions has come.”
