China’s communists have launched a new crackdown on religious faith with party members being threatened with ‘ thought education’ unless they shed their beliefs.

President Xi Jinping’s increased crontrol of party members begun six years ago when he took office. Xi has accrued more power than any of his immediate predecessors and has intensified efforts to ensure cadres are ‘loyal, disciplined, and law-abiding’. A new clause in the updated discipline rules takes aim at party members who are religious. While the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion the party is officially atheist and party members are supposed to be too.

“Party members who have religious belief should have strengthened thought education. If they still don’t change after help and education from the party organisation, they should be encouraged to leave the party,” the new rules say. Those who attend “activities that use religion for incitement” will be expelled, according to the rules.