‘I have asked investigative officers, prosecutors and judges: Where can you find me a document in which a department has designated, let’s say, the Shouters as a xie jiao or a xie jiao organisation? I have asked the prosecution dozens of times in court whether there is such a thing. No one has ever said “Yes, I can find it for you” or showed me such a document.’

Chinese human rights lawyer

To be designated xie jiao is to be openly pursued and persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Under the rule of Xi Jinping the situation for almost every religion or belief community in China has deteriorated amid a worsening picture for human rights across the country, but for groups labelled xie jiao, this has been a reality for decades.

What is xie jiao?

Xie jiao – usually translated into English as ‘heterodox teachings’ or ‘evil cults’ – has been illegal in China since October 1997. It is criminalised under Article 300 of the Criminal Law, which prohibits ‘organizing/using xie jiao to undermine implementation of the law’ and carries a punishment of three to seven years imprisonment, ‘or more’.