Public Security Officials Detain Nearly 50 Protestant Leaders in Hebei

Public security officials detained nearly 50 Protestant leaders in Hebei province, according to an October 20 report by the China Aid Association (CAA), a U.S.-based NGO that monitors the religious freedom of Chinese Protestants. The 50 are leaders of house churches from over 20 Chinese provinces who were meeting in retreat in Gougezhuang village, Laishui county, in Hebei province. On October 20, public security and religious affairs officials from Baoding city raided the meeting and detained those present, including the well-known evangelist Zhang Mingxuan (in Chinese). Public security officials beat at least one person, a woman named Dai Hong (in Chinese). CAA reported on October 21 that all detainees had been released.

Unregistered Protestant and Catholic communities are growing in Hebei province. According to some estimates, up to half of China's Catholics live in Hebei, and officials have detained many Catholic priests and bishops in the province. In June 2005, Hebei Catholics sent a letter protesting religious persecution to a Catholic news agency based in Italy. Authorities in Hebei province also persecute and harass unregistered Protestants. In July 2005, for example, Hebei public security officials detained about 100 Protestant students.