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Cook, Sarah --- "Freedom of religion and belief" [2019] ELECD 1309; in Biddulph, Sarah; Rosenzweig, Joshua (eds), "Handbook on Human Rights in China" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019) 323

Book Title: Handbook on Human Rights in China

Editor(s): Biddulph, Sarah; Rosenzweig, Joshua

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Section: Chapter 16

Section Title: Freedom of religion and belief

Author(s): Cook, Sarah

Number of pages: 25

Abstract/Description:

This chapter takes stock of the practical realities and legal framework surrounding religious freedom and persecution in China under the leadership of Xi Jinping with regard to seven major religious groups—Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Tibetan Buddhism and Falun Gong. The author argues that three features of the environment for religious freedom in China are notable in the context of a discussion of human rights. First, there is a large discrepancy between law and practice, including between China’s international human rights commitments and the day-to-day actions of its government. Second, China is home to ongoing and severe violations of internationally-recognized aspects of religious freedom. Third, while some restrictions on freedom of religious practice and belief touch all faiths in China, there is very uneven implementation of government policies across geographic, ethnic and religious lines, resulting in a wide diversity of treatment and experience among believers.