Christmas 2011 Special Report: Churches in Beijing, Zhejiang, Sichuan are Persecuted

China Aid Association

(Beijing—Dec. 25, 2011) As people all over the world celebrated Christmas, Christians in at least three parts of China faced police harassment, detention and beatings simply for attempting to mark one of the most important religious holidays of the year for followers of Christ.

(Photo: Brother Luo Sennian in Zhejiang province after police beating. ChinaAid photo)

ChinaAid has learned that more than 30 members of Shouwang Church in Beijing were taken into police custody and held at different police stations for persisting in holding outdoor Sunday worship services. According to eyewitnesses, the plaza that has been Shouwang’s designated outdoor worship site since April was jam-packed with police, as though they were getting ready for a big battle.

As of this writing, some of the detainees had been released, but if past practice is followed, the trickle of releases will continue into Monday and possibly Tuesday.

At the opposite corner of China from Beijing, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, police attacked a Christmas morning celebration of some Christians at the Yuchi Plaza in Liangzhong. Three people were taken away by police from the Xichen police station and some items used for the Christmas celebration were taken by force. There were reports that the police used tear gas to disperse believers and that some Christians were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Also, in coastal Zhejiang province, six believers from the Hongtang village house church in Huangtianfan township, Dongyang county, were seized and interrogated by police on December 24. ChinaAid had previously reported only four people taken into police custody in this incident. Brother Luo Sennian was beaten and got his lips bloodied (see photo above), and he and his wife and son were all taken into police custody.

ChinaAid was stunned by the persecution suffered by Christian churches as well as brothers and sisters for wanting to celebrate Christmas. Why is the Chinese government, the so-called “People’s government”, so scared of Christmas?

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “ (Matthew 5:10)


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

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Christmas 2011 Special Report: Churches in Beijing, Zhejiang, Sichuan are Persecuted

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