Believe it or not, this is the same policy when sending packages to US solders in Iraq.
---------------------------------------------
China denies Bible ban policy
November 08 2007 at 01:18PM
iol.co.za
Beijing - China will guarantee religious freedom during next year's Beijing Olympics, Games organisers said on Thursday, as the officially atheist government denied reports it was banning bibles.
Reports in US media had said China's government, which strictly monitors and controls all religious activity, would ban bibles from the Olympic Village.
But a foreign ministry spokesperson said the reports were "sheer rumours".
"The Chinese government has made no such stipulations," spokesperson Liu Jianchao told a regular press briefing.
"The Chinese government has always respected and guaranteed the religious freedom of foreigners in China."
A spokesperson for the Beijing Olympic organising committee, Sun Weide, said officials, athletes, journalists and spectators would be allowed to bring into the country items of worship for personal use, including bibles.
"China's law will guarantee religious freedom during the Olympics. What will not be allowed is bringing in bibles for distribution or propaganda," he said.
That is in line with past Olympic practice and the Olympic Charter, he said, which bans using the Games for "political, religious or racial propaganda".
Liu attributed the bible reports to forces trying to tarnish the August 8-24 Games.
"It is obvious that there are some people who do not want China to hold a successful Olympic Games," he said.
"We hope those people spreading rumours can reflect on their wrong actions and do not lift a stone only to drop it on their own foot."
Although Bibles are not illegal in China, the Amity Printing Press in the eastern city of Nanjing has been given the sole licence by the government to print them for distribution and sale in state-approved churches only.
China allows Christians to worship in state-approved and strictly monitored churches, but many prefer unregistered "underground" or "house" churches.
Sun said centres of religious worship will be set up to cater to athletes at the Olympic village during the Games. - Sapa-AFP
* * * |
