E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1 page 70 any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.’ Moreover, in China, the National Regional Autonomy Act, the Penal Code, the Civil Code, the Electoral Code, the Military Service Code, the Compulsory Education Act and the Act on the Organization of Rural Committees clearly and specifically prescribe protection for freedom of worship and equal rights for believers. Where violation of religious rights is concerned, article 147 of the Penal Code stipulates that: ’State officials who infringe citizens’ freedom of belief or who violate the customs of national minorities may, in the most serious cases, be sentenced to a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or to a short-term prison sentence. Anyone who forcibly prevents lawful religious activities, obliges believers to give up their religion, compels a citizen to practise any form of worship, unlawfully closes or demolishes lawful places of worship or other religious installations, infringes democratic rights, or individual freedom and fails in his duty shall be punished by the law.’ The above-mentioned codes and decrees constitute the legal guarantees, ensuring respect for and the protection of citizens’ freedom of worship. The Government of China has always respected and protected citizens’ right to and freedom of worship. In January 1991, it enacted regulations on the religious activities of aliens living in the territory of the People’s Republic of China and a regulation relating to places of worship. The enactment of these two regulations further institutionalizes and legalizes Chinese policy in respect of worship and promotes the global and fair application of religious policy by the State agencies concerned and by their staff. For many years, the Government has made considerable efforts to promote and protect the development of religion in China. There are 47 religious institutes in China: Buddhist institutes and Koranic schools, the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Nanking, Catholic philosophical and theological institutes and Taoist institutes. Since 1980, approximately 2,000 young people have graduated from these institutes, which have also sent over 100 students to continue their studies in 12 countries and regions of the world. All religions have their own publications; they publish their own religious texts. Over 9 million copies of the Bible have been published. Nowadays, 200,000 people work in the religious field in China. In addition, many people are conducting research and working in connection with religion in all the major sociological and scientific research institutes, as well as in other higher education establishments. The Government of China has adopted a set of educational measures to ensure that society as a whole understands the importance of citizens’ freedom of worship. For example, secondary-school textbooks contain chapters exclusively devoted to China’s policy on freedom of worship. In 1993, one of the subjects in the national higher-education entry exam was the policy of freedom of worship. As a result of the Government’s correct religious policy and its strict application, it has been possible for religious activities to continue and increase, international contacts are developing and religion enjoys the support of society as a whole."