In an escalation of its already tight grip on religious freedom, China introduced a sweeping set of regulations that strictly control how clergy of officially recognized religions can operate online.
The new rules – released by the State Administration for Religious Affairs on Sept, 15 – are a continuation of Beijing's long-term campaign to control religious practices in an effort to reshape faith so it aligns with the Chinese Communist Party.
The 18-article document, titled “Code of Conduct for Religious Clergy on the Internet,” outlines what religious leaders in China are allowed to do in the digital space. More significantly, it focuses on what they are forbidden from doing.
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