A state-approved Catholic church in Beijing, China.
A leading Christian non-profit has warned that the official persecution of believers is intensifying in China after major raids and arrests of church leaders and congregants in recent months.
Christian missionary organization, named China among the worst countries to be a Christian in its annual World Watch List.
China was ranked just below Afghanistan, India and Saudi Arabia.
"Our church struggles to find a safe venue without fear of being reported," said Judy Yang, a representative of an unregistered church who answered questions from the ABC under a pseudonym for fear of arrest.
"Along with the possible risk of being monitored … parents are also [forced] to exclude … children under 18 years old from attending any religious activities."
In early January, Chinese authorities raided the homes and offices of people associated with the Early Rain Covenant Church and arrested nine people.
One of those detained was "suspected of national security–related crimes", according to an update from the church to its members.
Citing lawyers for the detained Christians, US-based organization China Aid said "in most cases the authorities have not presented formal legal documents to the families".
"The specific charges and detention locations remain unclear," it said.
Congregants attend a service at a state-approved Three-Self church in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, China.
The raids came after Chinese authorities arrested dozens of Zion Church network pastors and church leaders in October.
"What is being suppressed is not just one congregation or one group of people — it is the church in China as a whole, standing at a historic crossroads," a statement from Zion Church leaders said at the time.
The 2026 World Watch List report said members of unregistered churches were particularly vulnerable to "surveillance, harassment, imprisonment, abduction, and physical abuse".
"This targeting often achieves another stated aim of the authorities: intimidating entire congregations," it said.
Freedom of religious belief is ostensibly guaranteed by China's constitution, but the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is officially atheist and only recognizes two Christian bodies.
Those are the heavily controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement for Protestants and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which operates independently of the Vatican.
"Any time there is global political churn … it does seem like there's increased focus on those registered churches.
"Generally, there's suspicion that Chinese Christians are connected to Christian communities around the world, and some indirect or direct criticism finds its way out like that."
Under President Xi Jinping, the government has sought to "Sinicise religion" and force faiths with their cultural center outside China — such as Christianity and Islam — to adopt "Chinese characteristics".
University of Westminster Chinese studies professor Gerda Wielander said Mr Xi had "severely tightened control of all religions, reducing the previously available 'grey' spaces in which much religious activity was tolerated".
Since 2017, the Chinese government has also targeted ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims under the guise of preventing terrorism.
No comments:
Post a Comment