China Destroys Some 2,000 Christian Churches In Xinjiang Within 2 Years - US Ambassador

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2019) The Chinese government is responsible for the destruction of more than 2,000 Christian churches in the province of Xinjiang in a period of two years, US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said on Friday.

"On Xinjiang province, observers estimate that in just two years the Chinese government destroyed more than 2,000 Christian churches," Brownback said during a conference on religious freedom organized in Washington.

Brownback accused the Chinese authorities of "increasing repressions" against Christians.

Brownback noted China adopted several regulations last year, giving the authorities more power on matters pertaining to religion.

"Since those regulations came into force, the crackdown on Christianity increased dramatically," Brownback said.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan organization created 20 years ago, said in its report released in April that China is repressing the religious beliefs of a number of faiths, including Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Falun Gong practitioners and Uighur Muslims.