Chinese Univ denies ousting Christian students for praying

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Press Trust of India Beijing
Last Updated : Dec 22 2015 | 1:28 PM IST
A Chinese university today said that six Christian students who prayed together in the campus days ahead of Christmas will not be punished after they promised not to repeat it again.
Denying reports by a US-based human rights group that the students faced expulsion from the varsity, Song Bolong, director of the publicity department of Shandong Yingcai University in the provincial capital Ji'nan, said that the students have not been punished.
"The university decided against punishing them after they promised not to do it again," Bolong told state-run Global Times.
US-based Christian human rights group China Aid reported Thursday on its website that five of the six Christian students faced expulsion from the university after they were spotted praying together on campus.
The six students were photographed by another student while they were holding their routine prayer session on December 15 and the photographer called local public security, Song said.
"We respect the students' legitimate right to religious beliefs, but the university has banned group religious activity by students according to the Ministry of Education (MOE) regulations," Song said.
Song suggested that the six students should pray outside the campus and at religious sites such as churches in downtown Ji'nan.
Next to Buddhism, Christianity is regarded as the fastest growing religion in the Communist-nation.
Unofficial estimates say China has over 65 million Christians including Catholics, Protestants as well as other church groups.
In view of restrictions and limited number of Churches, most of the Christians pray at home churches which are considered illegal.
Church groups recently alleged that Crosses have been removed from dozens of Churches in Zhejiang province.
The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), has tenuous ties with Rome apprehending political impact of the rapid growth of Christianity in the country as it could become a movement in later years challenging CPC's power base.

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First Published: Dec 22 2015 | 1:28 PM IST

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