On January 6, the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs issued a notice on their WeChat account, promulgating The Regulations on Religious Affairs of Fujian Province, which will come into effect on March 1.
The regulation was passed at the 24th Standing Committee session of the 13th National People's Congress on December 3, 2020.
The catalog includes general rules for religious groups and religious colleges, venues for religious activities, clerical personnel, religious activities, religious property, legal responsibilities, and supplementary provisions.
Article 60 mentions that those who violate any provision of Article 42, Paragraph 1 of Article 43, and Paragraph 2 of Article 45 will be ordered to make corrections by relevant competent authorities.Illegal gains or properties shall be confiscated, and a fine of not less than 1,000 yuan but not more than 5,000 yuan may be imposed. If the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 20,000 yuan shall be imposed. Those who violate the public security administration shall be punished by the public security bureau in accordance with the law. Those who have criminal charges brought against them shall be subject to criminal liability in accordance with the law.
Article 42 states that collective religious activities shall generally be held in religious venues. Individual religious practice shall be carried out in private residences in accordance with religious traditions and may not affect the production and life of others. Paragraph 1 of Article 43 mentions that no organization or individual may preach in public places other than religious venues, religious colleges, or designated temporary religious places. Paragraph 2 of Article 45 says no organization or individual may transport, sell, copy, distribute, display, or post religious publications, printed materials, or audio-visual products that are illegally produced or entered illegally.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
