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| A document announcing the prohibition of Christmas-related items in Langfang, Hebei. (Photo: ChinaAid) |
ChinaAid
(Langfang, Hebei—Dec. 22, 2018) Days before people around the world will observe Christmas, officials in Langfang, Hebei province have prohibited public Christmas decorations.
A statement issued by the government ordered all Christmas exhibits removed from roads and shopping centers, beginning tomorrow and lasting through Christmas day. Other public spaces will be monitored, the notice said.
Santa has also been banned.
The Global Times, China’s state newspaper, cited Langfang city officials as claiming that the order is not an attack on Christmas, but rather “to maintain a clean city environment for an upcoming awards competition.” However, it comes amid Chinese authorities’ building, unfounded anxiety about foreign religions infiltrating China in order to overthrow their power. As a result, they have begun “Sinicizing” religions, or forcing them to conform to Communist Party ideals, in order to preserve their ideological control of the people. Those who refuse to comply are often arrested or otherwise harassed.
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ChinaAid Media Team
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