On Sunday morning, a worship service at a well-known church in Jiangyou, a city in southwestern China, was interrupted by a large contingent of police officers. Congregation members reported that two senior church members remain detained. The church is located in Sichuan Province, approximately 100 miles north of Chengdu, the provincial capital.
Video footage shared on the church’s Telegram channel captured the raid’s commencement. The channel’s administrator, apparently outside of China, reported witness accounts of 60 to 70 officers from various agencies, including local police, Religious Affairs Bureau, and state security, involved in the raid.
During the raid, officials surrounded the congregation, which included children, while members continued to sing hymns. Authorities detained 31 individuals and took them to a detention center for questioning. They pressured detainees to sign documents without revealing the content, though most refused, according to the Telegram statement.
By 11 p.m., most detainees were released, except for two church elders, Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing.
Newsweek sought comments from China’s National Religious Affairs Administration via email regarding the incident.
About 1 to 2 percent of Chinese adults identify as Christian, according to the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), conducted by Renmin University. While Christianity is legal, Beijing enforces strict regulations over religious activities, imposing some of the harshest restrictions globally on organized religion. Unapproved public worship is forbidden, and religious sites must register with authorities.
Religious groups experience extensive oversight, particularly regarding teaching, publishing, and online engagements.
Beijing’s Stance on Religious Activities
On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry defended the country’s approach to managing religious affairs, dismissing outside criticism as interference. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “The Chinese government manages religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects people’s freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities.” Lin emphasized opposition to what they termed as interference in China’s internal matters under the guise of religion.
The Early Rain Covenant Church symbolizes the difficulties independent Christian congregations in China face. Observers and rights groups highlight an increasing crackdown on these groups.
In December 2018, the church was a central focus of a significant crackdown when founding pastor Wang Yi and more than 100 congregants were detained. Wang received a nine-year prison sentence for charges such as “inciting subversion of state power.” Wang had refused to register the church with the state and opposed President Xi Jinping’s efforts to align religious practices with the Communist Party’s doctrines.
This recent raid is one of several targeting unregistered churches. A similar operation targeted Zion Church, a nationwide assembly of house churches, late last year.
Leave a Reply