An incentive scheme has been launched by the religious affairs department in Guangzhou to encourage the public to report illegal religious activities, with rewards varying from RMB100 to RMB10,000.
Authorities have identified a number of religious activities that are considered illegal, including promoting, aiding or funding religious extremism, and using faith to harm national solidarity, split the country or carry out acts of terrorism.
Citizens who provide reliable information on illegal religious activities will be entitled to a reward of between RMB100-1,000, while those who aid authorities in busting illicit religious organizations can receive payments of up to RMB10,000. The reward for informing on illegal overseas religious organizations ranges from RMB3,000-5,000, showing an increased effort to thwart this kind of activity from being imported into Guangzhou. Authorities are also willing to reward individuals who help uncover the personnel behind these illegal groups.
According to a bulletin posted on the Guangzhou Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs’ website, the incentive plan is intended to improve the government’s ability to manage unlawful religious actions. Another intended consequence is to mobilize Guangzhou residents “to fight against such activities and safeguard social stability,” according to Global Times.
The incentive scheme will be effective for the next five years.
The Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs’ webpage notes that overseas forces are increasingly using religion inside China in an attempt to split and Westernize the nation. The hope is that rewarding tips will help to combat the intrusion of religion into China and control religious interactions.
READ MORE: Party Warns Charities Against 'Forcing' Religion on Orphans
0 User Comments