A southern Chinese city is offering cash rewards for information about "illegal religious groups" as the ruling Communist Party continues to tighten its grip over faith communities.
A notice posted on the official website of the Guangzhou Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs said up to 10,000 yuan (USD 15,000) would be paid for verified information and assistance in hunting down key members and leaders of illegal foreign religious groups and revealing their structures.
The department said smaller rewards would be offered for reports about religious venues set up without permission and behaviour encouraging "religious extremism."
Earlier this month, a US envoy on religion called for an independent investigation of the detentions and for the release of those being held, describing the situation in Xinjiang as "horrific."
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