The report further said the government’s active resolve to drive people from Christianity and other faiths to the atheist ideology of the Communist Party was part of its efforts to “Sinicize” religion.
Though a government official disputed the claims, reiterating that the Chinese authorities have great respect for religious freedom, a pastor, who wished to remain anonymous, said that immediately after his church had opened its doors in the morning, several people entered and began removing religious items.
However, not everyone has stayed mum on the issue. On Sunday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) rebuked the Chinese government for trying to suppress religious freedom.
"Imagine what life would be like for our children if they inherit a world in which the most powerful country is one that burns bibles, ransacks Christian churches & rounds up & detains Muslims in internment camps," Rubio tweeted. "Because that is what #China is doing."
In addition to violating the religious freedom of Christians, Muslim minority groups like Uyghurs, of Turkish origin, who live in the Xinjiang region, have long been targeted by the government and forced to renounce their faith. Up to a million of them were arrested and detained in “political education” camps and even forced to pledge loyalty to the Community Party. Those who resist or refused to change were punished.