In China thousands of people are locked up, in danger of being torture and mistreated, for following banned religions – and it's only getting worse.

According to a new report from the US Government, over the past year China has stepped up its repression of religious groups.

The report, which comes out every year and looks at religious freedom worldwide, criticises China's treatment of the Muslim Uighurs, Tibetans Buddhists, Christians and members of the Falun Gong spiritual group.

Classified for concern

From the BBC:

" …"The government reportedly continued to detain Uighur Muslim citizens for possession of unauthorised religious texts, imprison them for religious activities determined to be 'extremist', and prevent them from observing certain sacred religious traditions," the report said …"

China has been classified among the "Countries of Particular Concern" since the US first put out a religious freedom report in 1999, says the International Herald Tribune.

" … after a violent Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule last March, authorities locked down monasteries, intensified 'patriotic education' campaigns and detained an unknown number of monks and nuns or expelled them from monasteries …"

Millions obstructed

Amnesty International's 2008 report, The State of the World's Human Rights, has similar findings.

Over the last year millions of people were obstructed from following their religion. We write:

" … Thousands remained in detention or serving prison sentences, at high risk of torture, for practising their religion outside of state-sanctioned channels …"

Dying in custody

We believe that more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners died in detention or shortly after release, because of torture, ill-treatment or denied of food or medical treatment.

And an elderly Catholic bishop, Han Dingxiang, died in custody under suspicious circumstances after more than 20 years in jail.

China's officials must let people practice whatever religion or spiritual practice they choose. Just like they must let journalists go about their business without censorship, and let peaceful human rights defenders campaign on whatever issues they like.