(Taiyuan, Shanxi Province—July 09, 2021) At 8 am on July 7, police again summoned Zhao Weikai, a 35-year-old Christian from Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church. Later, although Brother Zhao’s family had not received a formal detention notice, they heard that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials had criminally detained him with the charge of “illegal holding of materials promoting terrorism and extremism.”
Brother Zhao, an active coworker of Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church, works closely with Minister An Yankui, a good friend from his early years. Brother Zhao and Minister An studied theology together in Chengdu Huaxi Seminary, a Christian university Pastor Wang Yi founded. They also served Taiyuan Xuncheng Reformed Church together.
On May 17, 2021, police officers summoned Brother Zhao in the name of “proselytism,” and raided his home. Later that same day, officials also summoned Sister Li Xin. Brother Zhao’s charge basically means that he proselytized his children. Shortly after 7 am on May 17, approximately 20 police officers raided Brother Zhao’s home. After several officers showed a subpoena citing “proselytism” to him, they transported Brother Zhao to the local police station. Other officers still in Brother Zhao’s home continued to search the property until 12 pm. Although police officers confiscated numerous books, a computer, a hard drive, and a flash drive, they failed to provide a legal document or list of items they impounded.
On May 20, when Minister An, Brother Zhao’s family, and his lawyer traveled to Lishi Detention Denter. There, officials denied their request to visit Brother Zhao. After a series of complaints, authorities responded with the “excuse” that as “‘the case involves classified information’ or ‘the case involves national security concerns.’ Thus, the request is denied.”
They arrested Brother Zhao without an arrest warrant, and searched his home without a search warrant. They summoned and detained him using the excuse of home schooling his children but they interrogated him about our church, completely irrelevant to the case. Until now, his family has not received any document, not even a list of items they impounded nor a detention notice. Everything remains a secret, a public secret. CCP authorities persecute God’s church.
Authorities persecute Christians—a public secret. The fact that a small group of people’s crimes have become most people’s secret, pushes China to a chasm.
ChinaAid Media Team
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