UK Government paying 'close attention' to human rights of Chinese Christians
by Antony Bushfield
The UK Government is "concerned" by the current crackdown on Christianity in China, a Foreign Office minister has said.
Alok Sharma, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the government was paying "close attention to the human rights situation in China".
He said the government "remain concerned by all reports of restrictions to freedom of religion or belief and persecution of faith groups, including reports of the removal of crosses from Christian churches in Zhejiang Province".
Ya Village Church in Huzhou city is having the cross removed via crane.
The minister was responding to a question from Christian MP Jim Shannon who asked ministers to speak to Chinese officials about their practice of removing crosses.
In many cases officials claim the crosses violate planning rules but local Christians reject this and say it is part of a wider crackdown on their faith.
In his written reply Mr Sharma said that "a British official visited Wenzhou in May and spoke to church leaders".
He said the case of Ding Cuimei, a Christian who was killed whilst protesting against the demolition of her church in Zhejiang province, was raised with the authorities.
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