Police van and cyclist in Beijing, China

模糊定义与随意打压令中国宗教少数群体的处境更加艰难

“从来没有哪个机关站出来说我们定了哪些是邪教或邪教组织。这个问题我向侦察人员、检察员、审判人员都问过:‘你们说,在什么地方能查到,哪个部门把比方说呼喊派定为邪教或邪教组织?’我不下几十次在法庭上质问控方,‘有没有?’从来没有一个人说‘有,我可以给你找到’,把文件拿出来。”

中国人权律师

被认定为”邪教“就会被中国共产党公开追捕和迫害。在习近平执政期间,中国几乎所有宗教信仰团体的处境都伴随着全国各地恶化的人权状况而变得更加糟糕。不过,被贴上”邪教“标签的团体已数十载面临困境。

什么是”邪教“?

自1997年10月以来,”邪教“在中国一直是非法的。根据刑法第300条定罪,”组织、利用邪教组织破坏法律实施“,可判处三至七年有期徒刑,或更长刑期。

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Police van and cyclist in Beijing, China

Vague definitions and arbitrary crackdowns make the struggle of China’s religious minorities that much harder

‘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’.

Continue reading “Vague definitions and arbitrary crackdowns make the struggle of China’s religious minorities that much harder”