Security Officers Detain and Release House Church Protestants

Chinese public security officials have detained numerous "house church" Protestants in a number of incidents over the past several weeks, according to the China Aid Association (CAA), a U.S.-based NGO that monitors the religious freedom of Chinese Protestants.

• On June 24, public security agents raided a Protestant house church leadership training meeting in Henan province, and detained about 100 pastors. Nine remained in jailed as of June 29.
• On June 3, border security officials detained a group of house church missionaries entering China from Pakistan at Kashi in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Thirty-four were detained, and most were released after serving 15 days in administrative detention centers in or near their hometowns in eastern China.
• On May 24, police detained three house church Protestants visiting a Protestant leader's home in Henan province. Three women were detained, beaten, and interrogated for several hours each, and released.
• On May 22, public security officers raided house churches in Jilin province, detaining hundreds of Protestant believers and pastors. Most were soon released, but about 100 were still in detention as of June 9. CAA published a separate press release on these detentions.
• On May 13, public security officials raided a Bible class in Shanxi province, detaining 20 house church leaders. Most were released the same day, but one was held for 15 days and another remained in custody for 30 days.