Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on the US International Religious Freedom Report: Full of lies and false information
On July 1, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning hosted a regular press conference.
A reporter from the Japan Broadcasting Association asked a question. The US State Department released the "2023 International Religious Freedom Report" last week, claiming that the Chinese government "continues to monitor and suppress" Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. What is China's comment on this?
Mao Ning file photo. Mao Ning said that the so-called "report" by the US side disregards basic facts, is full of lies and false information, holds ideological prejudice, and deliberately smears China's religious policies. China firmly opposes this.
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Mao Ning said that the Chinese government protects citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law, and people of all ethnic groups in China enjoy full freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law. At present, there are nearly 200 million religious believers of all kinds in China, more than 380,000 religious clergy, about 5,500 religious groups, and more than 140,000 religious venues registered in accordance with the law. The facts are obvious to all and cannot be distorted or slandered.
She pointed out that the so-called "genocide" is an outright lie fabricated by the US. From the first national census in 1953 to the seventh national census in 2020, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang increased from 3.6076 million to 11.6243 million. The increase in the Uyghur population was not only higher than the increase in the population of the whole Xinjiang, but also higher than the increase in the population of all ethnic minorities, and significantly higher than the increase in the local Han population. At present, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic unity, religious harmony, and improved people's livelihood. The US ignores objective facts and repeatedly hypes up lies and fallacies. The real purpose is to create an excuse to contain and suppress China.
She also pointed out that the United States is plagued by chaos such as the politicization of religion, church scandals, the prevalence of cults, and incidents of religious discrimination and persecution. Religious freedom is severely infringed upon. The country has no right to act as a "teacher" and make irresponsible remarks or interfere in the religious situation in other countries.
![Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on the US International Religious Freedom Report: Full of lies and false information](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/5d9953aa0ff0e971bd1a21cba7f9d1f5.webp)
"We urge the US to respect facts, correct its mistakes and stop using the so-called religious issues to interfere in China's internal affairs," Mao Ning said.
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