Anhui house church pastor released from 15-day administrative detention

Photo: Children attending Quiotou Church’s summer camp this July. (Source: China Aid)

China Aid
Reported and written in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Brynne Lawrence. Edited in English by Ava Collins.


(Chuzhou, Anhui—Oct. 8, 2015) The pastor of a house church in China’s eastern Anhui province spoke with China Aid on Tuesday following a 15-day administrative detention.

Lü Jiangyang of Quiotou House Church in Anhui province was taken by authorities on Sept. 20 and released Monday. He told China Aid’s reporter Qiao Nong that the public security bureau indicated that he engaged in cult activities but that his penalty notice made no mention of cults. Lü also said that authorities checked his bank account and said that he was in contact with overseas organizations.

“During my detention,” Lü said, “They said that in 2010, the church had a 30,000 Yuan (U.S. $4,700) bank loan that it did not pay off. They detained me for this reason, but after they took me, they didn’t find any evidence. So, instead, they framed it to say I was in a cult.”

When asked if he would file an administrative reconsideration for the lawsuit regarding the loan, Lü stated that he did not know if he was already past the time limit to dispute it, as the suit took place in May 2014.

Lü told the reporter that he fasted for five days in protest during the detention. He said he was urged to eat by the head of the police station and other leaders of Chouzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau and finally accepted food on the sixth day of his detention.

Lü had previously been detained in July 2015 for holding a summer camp at the church for elementary and middle school students.