jail Friday, June 10, following a "major assault" by Chinese security services against evangelical Christians, a well informed human rights group said. The US-based Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) said it has learned that the latest troubles began Sunday, May 22, when "police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers simultaneously raided approximately 60 house churches in Changchun," the capital city of Jilin province in northeastern China.
"More than 500 house church believers and leaders were taken into custody. Most were released after 24 to 48 hours of interrogation, but approximately 40 leaders are still being held in different detention centers," VOM said in a statement to BosNewsLife News Center.
Around May 27, "approximately 60 additional house church leaders were arrested at Jiutai, a suburban city near Changchun. Most of the 60 leaders are still in custody," VOM added.
"MAJOR ASSAULT"
"This is clearly a major assault on unregistered house churches…" said Todd Nettleton, Director of VOM News Services. "The amount of man-power, coordination and planning involved in raiding 60 church meetings simultaneously shows this effort came from high levels of the Chinese government," he added.
Human rights groups recently published reports about "a secret directive" from Communist officials to crack down on Christians who are not part of the official sanctioned churches, such as house churches BosNewsLife established.
VOM said one church pastor, identified as 58-year old Zhao Dianru was released Monday, June 6, after 15 days of "administrative detention" on charges of disturbing social stability. The organization quoted unidentified sources as saying that about 20 boxes of Christian books were confiscated during the police raids.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
VOM sources said university students, professors and other young intellectuals make up a large portion of the raided house church groups. "It’s believed this is a coordinated campaign to eliminate house church influence in the university areas," VOM claimed.
"We urge Christians around the world to protest these illegal detentions," said Nettleton. "It’s time for China to live up to the commitments and treaties it has signed on religious freedom." While some church watchers say the situation has improved in several regions if China, human rights group Open Doors recently concluded that 60 to 80 million Chinese Christians still form "the largest single persecuted religious minority" in the world.
Nettleton said in the United States letters of protest can be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC at the address: Ambassador Yang Jiechi, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. 2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008. Fax: 1 (202) 588-0032.
Letters of encouragement to imprisoned Chinese Christians can be send via website: www.prisoneralert.com,VOM said. (With BosNewsLife Research, Stefan J. Bos and reports from China)
