You seem to imply that people are being persecuted en-mass for seeking material wealth.

While there might be a vocal minority here (and elsewhere) that scoff at material wealth, its pretty clear that society at large still measures status by your possessions.

People still seek out more luxurious cars, more gadgets, new fashions year after year without fail; evidenced by the unstoppable growth in those industries.

Even if people might say that material riches are a 'sin', they certainly are not behaving as such.