Chinese cities offer rewards for tips on ‘illegal’ religious practice, rights group says

Human Rights Watch, in a September 9, 2026 dispatch by Yalkun Uluyol, said that in the first half of 2026 more than a dozen Chinese cities introduced measures encouraging or rewarding people to report religious activity the government labels “illegal.” The piece is the primary source for this brief. HRW tied the local rules to amendments of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law that took effect January 1 and, for the first time, made “illegal religious activities” grounds for five to 15 days of administrative detention.

Examples HRW named: Honghe prefecture, Yunnan, listed 35 categories in February, including collective rites in private or unapproved venues, clergy preaching by livestream or WeChat, public distribution of religious materials, and unapproved religious education. Haidong, Qinghai, told hotels and travel agencies to screen hosted events and report “suspicious” situations. Chengdu, Sichuan, offered up to 800 RMB (about US$120) for verified tips. HRW said similar informant systems have existed in Xinjiang since 2013 and Guangdong since 2019. The dispatch is advocacy reporting, not an official gazette compilation.

A later, separate incident is not the lede here. After the September 11 Chengdu teahouse interruption involving Early Rain Covenant Church members, Minsheng Guancha reported on September 13 that nine of 11 people taken were released and that elder Wu Wuqing and Shen Xiaoqing received 10-day administrative detention — figures from that rights monitor. Faith & World Brief’s earlier Early Rain teahouse brief recorded the initial detention claims.