Chinese police formally arrested 18 leaders of the underground Zion Church, clearing the path for potential prosecution and up to three years in prison. The arrests, reported by Reuters, indicate a significant crackdown on religious groups within the country. The Christian NGO ChinaAid has criticized these detentions, claiming they are politically motivated. According to the organization, these leaders were being treated as criminals simply because they practiced their faith and refused to comply with the Communist Party’s regulations and surveillance. The arrests signify a broader crackdown on religious organizations in China.
The situation is compounded by the recent mandate of a Chinese province requiring people of faith to register on a ‘Smart Religion’ app for worship, as reported by Fox News. This move is seen as an attempt to control and monitor religious activities more closely. Additionally, there are reports of a Chinese underground church pastor, father of U.S. citizens, being detained by authorities, according to Fox News. Dr. Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, described the detentions as a ‘chilling milestone’ in the Communist Party’s efforts to suppress Christianity in the country. He emphasized that the only ‘crime’ these individuals committed was fulfilling their religious duties and refusing to make their church a propaganda tool for the Communist Party.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the detentions, urging the Chinese government to release the detained members. Open Doors, an international organization supporting persecuted believers, estimates that over 96 million Christians reside in China. These developments highlight the growing tensions between the Chinese government and religious groups, raising concerns about the freedom of religion and the safety of religious leaders in the country.