South China Morning Post: China questions dissident who wrote on mass demolition of crosses atop Zhejiang’s churches

South China Morning Post
By Jun Mai
Published: Wednesday, 04 November, 2015, 6:56 pm
Updated: Wednesday, 04 November, 2015, 9:44 pm


■ A Chinese dissident writer who wrote extensively about the mass demolition of crosses atop churches in Zhejiang province was questioned on Tuesday on suspicion of “inciting subversion of the state”, a friend confirmed.

Zan Aizong was taken away as he wrote extensively about
the mass demolition of crosses atop churches in Zhejiang.
Photo: SCMP Pictures

Zan Aizong was on Tuesday taken away briefly and his house raided, according to Zan’s friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to the friend, Zan said in a social media post that police had also seized his computer and cellphone.

Zan, a Zhejiang-based writer and a member of the Chinese Independent Pen Centre, has been vocal on various human rights issues in China, ranging from the jailing of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo to the massive campaign to demolish crucifixes affixed atop Zhejiang’s churches.

A Christian and a former journalist, Zan has written extensively on China’s house churches – unregistered churches deemed illegal by the state – and urged the government to recognise such churches.

The crucifixes affixed atop many churches in China’s Zhejiang
province have been removed by authorities over the past year.
Photo: Simon Song

The Zhejiang government last year targeted thousands of churches in Wenzhou, known by some as China’s Jerusalem, in a massive campaign in the name of “demolishing illegal construction”.

China Aid, a religious rights group based in the United States, has counted more than 360 crosses and one church demolished in the province from January to July last year.

Police have detained people against the move, including church members and prominent human rights lawyer Zhang Kai, who provided legal counsel for churches in their resistance to the campaign.


China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

South China Morning Post: China questions dissident who wrote on mass demolition of crosses atop Zhejiang’s churches

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Scroll to Top