Government Campaign Intensifies Against Protestant House Churches

August 30, 2005

Chinese public security officials have stepped up a campaign against Chinese and American believers involved in the Protestant house church movement, particularly in north central China, according to the China Aid Association, a U.S. NGO that monitors religious freedom for Protestants.

Chinese public security officials have stepped up a campaign against Chinese and American believers involved in the Protestant house church movement, particularly in north central China, according to the China Aid Association, a U.S. NGO that monitors religious freedom for Protestants.

  • On July 1, security officials in Zhaolou village, Henan province, detained approximately 70 house church members attending a baptism for new believers. Officials sentenced 10 members of the group to 15 days administrative detention; the others paid fines of RMB 300 ($35).
  • On July 22, police in Langfang, Hebei province, detained about 100 Protestant high school students who were attending a Bible school. The students were released after being questioned.
  • On July 26, Shanghai authorities posted a notice on a church gate declaring that church members were conducting "an illegal religious gathering and should end their service immediately" or else face "severe administrative punishment."
  • On August 2, security officials raided a South China Church house church meeting in Zaoyang, Hubei province. Officials detained two Americans for questioning, then released them later the same day. The Americans claim to have been handcuffed and mistreated. In the same sweep, police detained 41 pastors and members of the church. According to eyewitness accounts, officials beat and tortured many in the group. Authorities had released 30 of those detained by August 8, and released an additional 10 on August 13.
  • On August 7, public security officials raided a house church meeting in Hejing county in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, detaining about 30 church members. Most were released, but as of August 17, three remained in detention.
  • On August 11, police raided a Sunday school teacher's training class in the village of Xiping Xinjian in Jiangxi province. The security officials detained 35 students and church leaders. Another leader was detained on August 15.
  • On August 15, security officials detained five Americans and 27 Chinese leaders in Luoyang and Yichuan in Henan province.
  • From June through August, security officials in Lizhuang, Xuzhai, Qiaogou, and Fenggang towns in Gushi county in Henan province detained between 400 and 500 Protestants belonging to 15 separate house churches. All were released after police collected fines ranging between RMB 2,000 to 5,000 ($220-$550).