China Releases Christian Students, Teachers Remain Detained

By BosNewsLife Asia Service

BEIJING. CHINA (BosNewsLife)– Tree of the five Christians arrested on July 13 in a Christian youth camp raid in Tengzhou  city of Shandong province have been released, an advocacy group said Tuesday, July 21.

China Aid Association (CAA) told BosNewsLife in a statement that the believers were released on July 20 after serving seven days of “administrative detention”.

The three released Christians are students, the two other Christians still detained are teachers, CAA said. The teachers apparently received 10 to 15 days administrative detention and are still serving their sentences in Tengzhou City Detention Center, the group added.

The five Christians were among 28 Christians arrested on July 13 when town police and State Security Brigade officers raided a Christian youth camp in Hubin town of Tengzhou city in Shandong province, the advocacy group said.

Authorities allegedly confiscated the Christians’ belongings, including projectors, musical instruments, mobile phones, Bibles and other items. “The police interrogated, threatened and beat Christian youth in the Hubin police station, then released the majority of Christians,” CAA said.

CHRISTIAN ORGANIZERS

“However, the five Christians who organized the camp were detained, and were not given food or water for almost two days,” the group added. The two male Christian teachers who are still being held were identified as 38-year-old Wang Chang-Yin, who was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention and Qiu Jia-Cun, 44, who reportedly received 10 days of administrative detention.

The detentions have been linked to their Christian activities.

Officials could not immediately be reached for comment. China’s government has however denied reports of abuses, saying Christians are free to worship within the state-backed denominations.

The targetted groups are often ‘house churches’ organized by believers outside government control and related organizations such as Bible schools and Christian youth camps. Rights watchers say there has been a growing crackdown on these activities in recent months.