Officials Break Up Protestant Christmas Services in Xinjiang; Detain 12 House Church Leaders

February 1, 2006

Officials broke up two Protestant house church Christmas celebrations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and detained 12 house church leaders, according to a December 27, 2005 report of the China Aid Association (CAA), a U.S. NGO that monitors the religious freedom of house church Protestants.

Officials broke up two Protestant house church Christmas celebrations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and detained 12 house church leaders, according to a December 27, 2005 report of the China Aid Association (CAA), a U.S. NGO that monitors the religious freedom of house church Protestants. On December 24, officials broke up a Christmas celebration taking place in Korla city in the XUAR at which about 100 house church members were present. On December 25, officials raided a Christmas celebration taking place in a rented commercial facility in Manasi county in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture in the XUAR. Approximately 200 house church members were present. Officials presented a search warrant, declared the celebration an "illegal religious gathering," and detained 12 leaders and confiscated without receipt private property including two motor vehicles. The following day officials released seven leaders but detained Pastor Guo Xianyao, Lu Jianzhen, Wu Haifang, Wang Ximei, and Zhou Bin until January 8,2006, according to a January 16 CAA report. Officials beat Guo Xianyao and fined all those detained.

CAA also reported that on December 13, officials detained Pastors Miao Fengming and Liu Haibo in Zhaqi county, Inner Mongolia, and accused them of "leading illegal religious gatherings." Officials released the two pastors after a 24-hour detention.

Article 12 of China's Regulation on Religious Affairs (2005) forbids citizens to gather other than at "registered sites" presided over by "religious personnel" whom the government certifies as "qualified." The Chinese government generally qualifies only religious personnel who submit to state control of religious groups. Chinese officials frequently break up gatherings on unregistered religious sites and detain unregistered religious leaders on religious holidays. Officials detained unregistered Protestants on or near Christmas in 2004 (AFP report) and 2003 (AsiaNews report). In addition, officials detained unregistered Catholics on or near Christmas in 2004 (AP report) and 2002 (Cardinal Kung Foundation press release).

For more information on Protestants in China, see the CECC 2005 Annual Report, Section III(d).