Authorities in China's eastern province of Zhejiang have reportedly banned all forms of religious activity in hospitals, the latest move in an apparant crackdown aimed towards the Protestant Christian community.
According to Radio Free Asia, patients and visitors of the Central Hospital in Wenzhou were made aware of the new rule through a notice which read, "Religious activities are banned in this hospital."
Ministers and pastors will also be averted from holding prayer meetings for patients in hospital.
"Religious activities in hospitals have never been encouraged ... but some people have been doing it on the quiet, which is understandable, seeing that we are all here to support patients," confirmed an employee of the hospital on Thursday.
"Some people were really giving it their all, praying aloud and reading out the Bible. That's not allowed," the unnamed employee added.
The employee also revealed that doctors and nurses are going to have "a word" with those who will not adhere to the order regarding the religious practices in the hospital. According to Bob Fu, founder of the US-based Christian rights group China Aid, the rule similar to Zhejiang will be implemented in Anhui and the northern region of Inner Mongolia.
"The Chinese government is taking its persecution of religious believers to another level," he stated.
Calling the move unfair, Guangzhou-based pastor Ma Ke, of the southern city's Guangfu Church accused China of interfering with the freedom of religious belief of its citizens.
"They are interfering with people's religious beliefs, which is against the constitution ... because Chinese citizens should have the freedom to choose their religion, or to have no religion," Ma told RFA.
Recently a local governing body in China's central Guizhou province terminated the welfare and old-age insurance for Christians who attend church activities.