Christians from underground churches in China have faced renewed repression, underscoring President Xi Jinping’s growing intolerance for religious freedom.
Chinese law requires Christians to worship only in churches affiliated with religious institutions controlled by the Communist Party.
So far, only two Christian groups are officially recognized: the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Earlier this month, about 30 pastors and members of Zion Protestant Church – one of China’s largest unofficial Christian churches – were killed. arrested In at least seven provinces, including its founder Jin “Ezra” Mingri.
“Some [police officers] broke the locks and doors, while others cut off the power and pretended to be electricians – knocking on doors before breaking in,” said Bob Fu, a Chinese pastor who founded a U.S.-based religious group. china aidWhich closely monitors cases of Christian persecution in China.
Most of those arrested are accused of “illegally disseminating religious material online” as the church shifted to virtual services in 2018 and has since grown to at least 10,000 congregants in 40 cities.
rein in Christianity
In a post on Twitter, Germany’s commissioner for freedom of religion or belief, Thomas Rachel, condemned “violations of religious freedom” and called for the release of all church members.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized China’s actions, calling for the immediate release of those detained and allowing all people of faith to participate in religious activities without fear of reprisal.
“This action further demonstrates how hostile the CCP is toward Christians who reject party interference in their faith and choose to worship in unregistered house churches,” Rubio said in a statement. statementReferring to the Chinese Communist Party.
China’s Foreign Ministry rejected Rubio’s criticism, saying Beijing regulates religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects citizens’ freedom of belief and normal religious activities.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the United States should not interfere in Beijing’s internal affairs, German news agency dpa reported.
ChinaAid’s Fu told DW 23 members of the Zionist Church remain in detention, although eight have been allowed to meet their lawyers – a rare step taken by Beijing “under extreme international pressure”.
“The CCP has really made a concession this time,” Fu said. “Since those arrested are considered political prisoners, allowing them to meet their lawyers during the criminal investigation period would have been unthinkable in the past.”
Xi’s grip on Christianity strengthened
China is home to the world’s largest number of persecuted churches, according to the nonprofit group, where religious freedom has been declining rapidly under the Xi government since it took power in 2012. Global Christian Relief.
Over the past decade, Xi has pushed for the so-called “Sinicization” of religion, tightening ideological control over religious groups and ordering the demolition of churches and crosses.
Miro Ren, an exiled Chinese Christian now living in the US, told DW that she has recently noticed an increase in police raids on unregistered independent “house churches” in China.
“I have seen many [church] Over the past few years, members have been arrested one after another, but it had never happened on this scale before,” Ren said. “This time it feels different.”
Ren was a member of Early Ren Covenant Church, a house church in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, whose pastor was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to nine years in prison.
He told DW that the registration system is a political tool for authorities to gain more control over people’s faith.
“The authorities want to control your thoughts – this is already crossing the limits of trust,” Ren said.
Chinese pastor Fu also told DW that the persecution occurred because authorities consider worship and gatherings at unregistered churches a “political and ideological threat.”
,[Xi] He wants to be like God – if you don’t respect him, worship him and obey him completely, he considers you an intolerable presence in society,” he said.
Fear and Resilience in China’s House Churches
According to Chinese official figures cited by Pew ResearchOnly 2% of China’s population – between 29–44 million people – are Christians. But these figures probably do not include members of underground churches.
Many religious scholars estimate that there are hundreds of millions of Chinese Christians overall, including members of unregistered churches in all provinces.
Fu told DW that while the mass arrests of church leaders and ministers have instilled fear among church members, being under surveillance for long periods of time has already left many mentally prepared for the worst.
Fu said, “Most believers are aware that this may happen sooner or later… Even succession plans have been drawn up within the church leadership.”
Despite this, those remain optimistic, including Pastor Jin, the founding father of Zion Church.
Jin’s friend Fu told DW that the arrested pastor believed that “if he goes to prison, it will make China’s churches stronger and more prosperous.”
Although the Chinese government detained almost all clergy-level members during this wave of arrests, Fu observed that gatherings and church services continued as usual.
“I believe that history will once again prove that oppression [of Christianity] It is destined to fail,” he told DW.
Edited by: Keith Walker