Annual Persecution Report 2009: ChinaAid Releases Summary and Analysis of Christian Persecution

Pastor Jin Mingri was forced to preach outdoors to Beijing Shouwang Church members in November, 2009.

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
February 5, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Today, ChinaAid released its Annual 2009 Persecution Report, covering Christian persecution, specifically of House Churches, in China. After careful analysis of the 77 reported cases of persecution of House Church and Three-Self Christians in China, results indicates 19% overall increase in persecution in comparison with the data from 2008. This marks a total increase in persecution levels of 120% within the last two years. The report summarizes the data based on ChinaAid's investigative reporting through inside sources from teh year 2009, and offers both theoretical and diagram models to illustrate Christian persecution trends.

Click here to read the full Annual Report by the Government on Christian House Churches within Mainland China, January 2009 - December 2009.

The Annual Persecution Report contains a Foreword, Appendix and five main parts: 1) Introduction to International and Chinese contexts; 2) Review and Summary of Persecution in 2009; 3) List of Persecution Cases in Charts; 4) Diagrams Illustrating the Level of Persecution; and 5) Epilogue: A Sociological Approach and Speculative Analysis.

The Introduction to International and Chinese contexts outlines the influences of economics, politics, and social changes that shape and influence the persecution trends. It takes into account the global financial crisis, the shifting international order, and even the election of President Barack Obama affecting U.S.-Sino relations.

The Review and Summary and List of Persecution Case Charts describe the 77 cases reported by ChinaAid last year. They are grouped according to five types of persecution: 1) against House Church Leaders; 2) Against the House Church Movement in urban areas; 3) Forcing churches to quit worship meetings; 4) Severe punishment of long-term imprisonment and heavy fines; and 5) Tighter control of the Three-Self Church. The Charts indicate the cases of persecution, according to province; they provide basic details including the number of people involved, name of church and location, and a description of the case. Links to detailed reports are provided for additional information.

In the epilogue, ChinaAid analysts note the historical path of Chinese society from the feudal-model to a citizenship model. As China develops economically and politically, the Chinese people have begun to integrate the western concept of citizenry into their social understanding, altering the communal understanding of religious practices and faith preferences. It is amid this broader social change that the House Church Movement has grown dynamically and thrived.

ChinaAid analysts further introduce a new theoretical model in understanding church persecution trends in China. The tri-colored market model describes various stages of church growth and status in society. Churches and religious groups are categorized as being in the red market (officially and legitimately approved by the Chinese Communist government), the black market (officially banned or illegal), and the gray market (ambiguous legal status). The Epilogue expounds upon the application of the model as it relates to the data collected and summarized in the preceding sections.

ChinaAid thanks our contributors and sources for their willingness to expose the truth about persecution in China. We pray for the persecuted daily, and continue to call on the Chinese government to cease their repressive actions, and guarantee the religious freedom of its people.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.