Japan Press Weekly

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2011 October 12 - 18 TOP3 [JCP]

Shii calls for joint efforts with faith-based people overcoming differences in world views

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 15 spoke with a gathering of religious people in Chiba City on the JCP’s basic stance on religion.

Shii told the crowd that the JCP adheres to three basic principles in regard to religion as adopted in a resolution by the JCP Central Committee Plenum in December 1975.

Shii stated, “First, we unconditionally defend the freedom of religion,” explaining the JCP’s pre-war struggle against State Shintoism under the Imperial regime and the struggle against persecutions of religious organizations and their followers critical of the regime.

Regarding the second principle that the JCP strictly observes the separation of religion and politics, Shii stated, “We think it impermissible for the state to accord privileges to or persecute specific religions. We also see it as wrong for a religious group to support a specific political party and deprive its believers of their individual freedom to decide political support.”

As the third principle, Shii emphasized that the JCP opposes state intervention in religion. He expressed that the party will stand firm in defense of the freedom of all faiths at all stages of social development.

Shii also stated that the JCP considers that religions in the future will belong to the realm of free theoretical evolution.

Shii in conclusion called on the participants to “appreciate differences in world views and join hands with each other to change the world for the better of all.”