At least 30 people were detained in at least seven cities across China as part of a crackdown on Zion Church, an unregistered Protestant house church, that began on 10 October. Around 20 remain in custody.
Among the detainees is the church’s senior pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri, who was detained following a raid on his home in Behai, Guangxi Province, that began on the evening of 10 October. The pastor’s home was searched throughout the night, and he was taken away in handcuffs the following morning.
CSW sources suggest these arrests form part of the largest nationwide crackdown on house churches in decades, and many Chinese house church leaders have openly expressed support for Zion Church despite facing significant pressures themselves. One church member also pointed out that repression targeting house churches typically intensifies whenever relations deteriorate between China and the West.
The United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the detentions, 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.’
Zion Church, which is estimated to serve at least 5,000 members, is one of the largest unregistered churches in China, and has faced hostility from the authorities for several years. In September 2018 officials in Beijing shut down the church’s main building after it refused to install 24 closed-circuit cameras.
CSW’s CEO Scot Bower said: ‘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.’