Chinese government bans minors from attending church services

Chinese authorities have issued an order banning minors from attending church services as part of the government's continuing effort to crack down on religion.

Several provinces across China have reportedly barred children from joining religious groups and attending religious sermons. Over one hundred churches in Wenzhou in China's Zhejiang province have reportedly received a notice from the government informing them that minors are not allowed to enter churches.

Churches have been prohibited from organizing a youth summer camp and minors have been forbidden from participating in religious activities.

Local government offices in Zhejiang have reportedly assigned officials to monitor the churches and their activities.

Officials have also vowed to investigate government approved churches and underground congregations that operate outside the Beijing-run Catholic and Protestant churches, Daily Mail reported, citing UCA News.

According to China Aid, the government has also placed restrictions on church activities in the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong.

In late August, an article published in China's coastal Jiangsu province decried the government's attempts to restrict children from participating in religious activities.

The piece, titled "The Legality of the Religious Beliefs and Religious Activities of Minors According to the Law," pointed to laws instituted by the Communist Party that guarantee religious freedom in China.

The piece quoted from Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution, which states: "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion."

It also referenced various international regulation, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, that support a child's right to freedom of religion.

In Henan province, the local authorities issued a document in July reinforcing the communist policy of not allowing religions to run study classes for minors.

William Nee, a researcher for Amnesty International, said that the latest move by the government reflects the tightening control of religion, particularly Islam and Christianity, under President Xi Jinping.

"At this point its unclear how widespread the bans on children attending church services are in China, but these alarming reports seem to be coming in from fairly diverse areas throughout the country," he told Daily Mail.

The Communist Party began stepping up its crackdown on churches in 2014 when the government ordered the removal of crosses from church buildings in Zhejiang province.

During the crackdown, at least three churches were demolished, and over 360 crosses, including those from Catholic churches, were taken down. The officials contended that the crosses were too large and not in accordance with government guidelines.