Police operatives have detained dozens of pastors in China, in the biggest crackdown on Christians since 2018.
The detentions, which come amid renewed China-United States tensions after Beijing dramatically expanded rare earth export controls last week, drew condemnation from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called on Sunday for the pastors’ immediate release.
The founder of Zion Church, Pastor Jin Mingri, an unofficial “house church” not sanctioned by the government, was detained at his home in the southern city of Beihai on Friday evening.
His daughter, Grace Jin, and a church spokesperson, Sean Long, confirmed the arrest.
“What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year,” Long said.
Long added that police had questioned more than 150 worshippers and stepped up harassment at in-person Sunday services in recent months.
Speaking to Reuters from his home in the United States, Long added that around the same time, authorities detained nearly 30 pastors and church members nationwide, but later released five.
About 20 pastors and church leaders remain in detention, he added.
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Police in Beihai could not be reached by telephone for comment. China’s ministry of public security did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment.
Jin, 56, is being held in Beihai City No. 2 Detention Centre on suspicion of “illegal use of information networks”, an official detention notice that Long provided showed.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of seven years.
Supporters fear Jin and other pastors could eventually be indicted on charges of illegally using the internet to disseminate religious information.
Grace Jin said: “He’s been hospitalised in the past for diabetes. We’re worried since he requires medication.
“I’ve also been notified that lawyers are not allowed to meet the pastors, so that is very concerning to us.”
The crackdown comes a month after new rules from China’s top religion regulator banned unauthorised online preaching or religious training by clergy, as well as “foreign collusion”.
Last month, President Xi Jinping also vowed to “implement strict law enforcement” and to advance the Sinicisation of religion in China.
China has more than 44 million Christians registered with state-sanctioned churches, the majority Protestant, official figures show.
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