The ****trait of an Anti-Chiristian "Olympic Host" -- Christian
Organizations Illegally Disrupted and Invaded
Christian Organizations Illegally Disrupted and Invaded
By Ding Xiao
Radio Free Asia
Mar 09, 2008
Christian "family churches" in Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Henan provinces
have all been disrupted and invaded within one week. The news of the
arrest of Christians was in strong contrast with the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chairman Jia Qinglin's speech
emphasizing "harmony between religions and nationalities" at the CPPCC
session.
The head of the Family Church Union, Zhang Mingxuan told re****ters that
on March 3, Yunnan's Sunday School for minority students was attacked.
Students and staff were threatened and were not allowed to participate
in their church anymore. People involved in the attack included local
officials from the Public Security Bureau.
Zhang Mingxuan says, "When Sunday School started on March 3rd, local
authorities sent men over to intrude. They drove the students out and
arrested one man, who was later released. They also sent people over to
research information about me, such as how many times I have been there."
On March 2 in Xinjiang Province, Xinyuan County of Yili City, a "family
church" was disrupted and invaded. As a result, there are two males and
four females being held for 15 days for participating in "illegal
organizations," including two students arrested at Huo Cheng Province's
Church music class.
Ms. ****, a Christian who is the host of the church's music class, said,
"Currently they have six of our people under arrest. We hope that the
outside community will put some pressure on them to release these people
as soon as possible."
On the previous Thursday (February 28) when the church in Huocheng
County was attacked, 11 teenagers and two staff members were arrested
and held for one night. Afterwards, eight of them were released, but
three from Xinyuan County were taken back to their hometown and two of
those three are yet to be released.
No Peace or Harmony Allowed for Christian 'Family Churches'
At the same time, the Henan authorities are currently furiously hunting
down and arresting members of "family churches." On February 28, eighty
of 200 participants in a Christian meeting were captured. Fifty of those
arrested are now being illegally held with the excuse that they were
breaking the law by "engaging in the practice of a cult." This is in
violation of freedom of religion guaranteed in the Chinese Constitution.
Authorities are still hunting down ministers in each county.
An anonymous Christian tells us:
"Ning Ling's Detention Center currently holds 50 people who were
arrested and are accused of being "cult members." Currently the
authorities are attempting the capture of staff members responsible for
the meeting who were not at the scene and the ones who recommended
others to participate. Family members of those searched are afraid to
even turn on their cell phones. This is happening in all the nearby
counties."
At a CPPCC session on March 3, CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin emphasized
"peace and harmony between religions and nationalities." Members of
Chinese "family churches" feel that their current situation does not
compare to this speech. A Christian from a church group in Xinjiang
province said, "We were just watching the live CPPCC session on
television. Jia Qinglin's speech on religious freedom was very good. But
however good it sounds on the outside, our situation has not changed one
bit."
Zhang Mingxuan, a priest who is being harassed in many ways by local
authorities, says that with the sup****t of his beliefs, he does not fear
the pressure.
"I believe that God will protect me, for all my life I have been honest
and righteous."
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