Major crackdown on Chinese house church a symptom of deteriorating political relations
20 people, including senior church leaders, remain in police custody after a major crackdown on the unregistered Zion Church in China.
While Chinese persecution of Christians had eased in recent decades, the recent crackdown on the unregistered Zion Church marks increased government hostility.
A sweeping crackdown on the church began on Oct. 10, when at least 30 people were arrested across seven cities in China. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), approximately 20 individuals remain in custody.
Among those detained is the church’s lead senior pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri. He was arrested during a raid on his home in Beihai, Guangxi Province, on the evening of Oct.10. Authorities searched his residence through the night and took him away in handcuffs the following morning.
Refusal to participate in surveillance
CSW sources suggest this may be the largest state action against Chinese house churches in decades, and the largest mass arrest of Christians. Many house church leaders in China have publicly expressed support for Zion Church, despite facing significant pressure themselves.
Zion Church is estimated to have at least 5,000 members, making it one of the largest unregistered congregations in the country. The church has long been a target of government opposition. In September 2018, authorities shut down the church’s main building in Beijing after they refused to install 24 surveillance cameras.
Symptom of poor Western-Chinese relations
A number of other large unregistered churches were closed that same year following the implementation of a new religious law on February 1, which specifically targeted unregistered congregations. The shuttered churches continued meeting in smaller groups, which have been subject to ongoing harassment and raids. The crackdown on Zion Church appears to surpass previous operations targeting unregistered churches. One member of Zion Church noted that the repression of house churches often intensifies when relations between China and the West deteriorate.
Widespread condemnation
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, condemned the arrests, stating, “this crackdown further demonstrates how the [Chinese Communist Party] exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches. We call on the CCP to immediately release the detained church leaders and to allow all people of faith, including members of house churches, to engage in religious activities without fear of retribution.”
Scot Bower, Chief Executive at CSW, added, “CSW echoes calls for the immediate release of Pastor Jin and the other leaders and members of Zion Church who were detained in this latest crackdown. We call on the Chinese Communist Party to cease its harassment of unregistered churches and religious groups, and to guarantee to all religious and belief communities, in law and in practice, the right to publicly manifest their religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching without interference.”