Authorities Target Religious Leaders During, After Olympic Games

November 25, 2008

Chinese authorities have continued to target religious leaders for harassment, detention, and other abuses, in the midst and aftermath of the Olympic Games. China's preparations for the sporting event ushered in a period of heightened government scrutiny and control over communities including religious groups

Chinese authorities have continued to target religious leaders for harassment, detention, and other abuses, in the midst and aftermath of the Olympic Games. China's preparations for the sporting event ushered in a period of heightened government scrutiny and control over communities including religious groups. Recently reported cases include:

  • Pastor Zhang Mingxuan. Public security officers in Zhengzhou, Henan province, detained house church leader Zhang Mingxuan on August 6, according to August 6 and August 29 press releases from the China Aid Association (CAA). Authorities released him on August 29, but barred him from returning to Beijing until after the Paralympics Games, which ended on September 17. Zhang arrived back in Beijing on September 21, CAA reported in an October 1 press release. After the religious affairs bureau intervened following harassment of Zhang by public security officials, Zhang was able to resume house church services the following Sunday, CAA reported. On October 16, however, public security officers beat two of Zhang's sons, one of whom was severely injured, and detained Zhang, Zhang's wife, and his sister-in-law with the apparent aim of blocking their attendance at a ceremony for the Chinese House Church Alliance, according to October 16, October 22, and November 6 press releases from CAA. After holding them in Nanyang, Henan province, authorities released them on October 27, the November 6 press release reported. As noted in the Congressional-Executive Commission on China Political Prisoner Database, earlier in July authorities had forcibly moved Zhang from Beijing. Zhang said police told him they wanted him out of the city during the Olympics to prevent him from speaking to foreigners. In June, Beijing public security officers detained Zhang for two days for attempting to meet with a European Union representative and placed him under house arrest following his meeting with two Members of the U.S. Congress.
  • Imam Adil Qarim. Authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region detained Adil Qarim, an imam at a mosque in Kucha county, Aqsu district, during a "security sweep" of Kucha in the aftermath of a reported series of bomb attacks in the county on August 10, according to a September 4 report from the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP). An individual accused of involvement in the August 10 incident had attended the mosque. Adil Qarim denied having any links to the attack, the UHRP reported.
  • Bishop Jia Zhiguo. Authorities detained Jia Zhiguo, the unregistered bishop of Zhengding diocese, Hebei province, on August 24, 2008, according to an August 25 press release from the Cardinal Kung Foundation (CFK). Authorities released him into residential surveillance on September 18, 2008, CFK reported in a September 19 press release. According to a September 19 AsiaNews report, some sources said authorities detained Jia to block his contact with media and representatives of organizations for the disabled during the Paralympic Games. As noted in the CECC Political Prisoner Database, Jia had earlier been imprisoned for approximately 20 years and since 2004 has been detained multiple times. Authorities had last detained Jia in August 2007 because he removed a sign authorities placed on his church, identifying it as affiliated with the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association. Authorities released him from detention on December 14, 2007, but placed him under confinement in his home.

For more information on religion in China and information on political prisoners, see the Political Prisoner Database and Section II, Freedom of Religion, in the CECC 2008 Annual Report.