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| Wang Hong, the wife of incarcerated pastor Chen Shixin, holds Christian literature that survived a raid on the couple’s home. (Photo: ChinaAid) |
ChinaAid
(Huaibei, Anhui—June 22, 2017) The local government in China’s eastern Anhui province dispatched more than 10 officers to the home of an incarcerated church pastor on June 14 and searched it, confiscating important materials.
Wang Hong, the wife of Caili Church pastor Chen Shixin, told a ChinaAid reporter that group of more than 10 public security bureau agents showed up at her front door on June 14, armed with a search warrant, and demanded that she take them to her husband’s room. “They searched every corner of his office and took away the computer’s main console. They also thoroughly searched other rooms. I told them that I couldn’t find the key when they approached my closet, but they pried it open with special tools anyway. They took away the confiscated objects and gave us an inventory list.”
In addition, documents proving the church had contracted its land were confiscated.
Another Christian surnamed Gu alleged that the officials found and wanted to confiscate more than 10 Christian books but were hesitant to do so because confiscating religious items would require the presence of someone from the religious affairs bureau. He also said they photographed the house but reduced the number of pictures taken because the home did not double as a church.
Chen was taken into police custody on May 12 after an elaborate dispute over land contracted by the church, which escalated into the attempted kidnapping of his brother. Six days later, the public security bureau arrested him on the falsified charge of “intentionally sabotaging public and private property.” His case is currently at the local procuratorate, which will decide whether or not to prosecute him.
ChinaAid exposes abuses such as those suffered by Chen and Wang in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law.
ChinaAid Media Team
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