China Detains 13 House Church Leaders in Sichuan Province
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By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
SICHUAN, CHINA ANS — China Aid Association CAA says that it has learned that 13 house church leaders were detained at Qu county, Sichuan province on Sunday, March 30.
“According to an eyewitness within the church there, around 3pm on Saturday, March 29th, a house church service was attacked during their praise and worship service,” said a spokesperson for CAA. “The church is in Qu county, Dazhou city which is a six hour drive from Chengdu city, Sichuan Province.
“Seven believers were taken by a group of people who claimed to be from local religious affairs bureau, community administration and national security. Their names are Wang Qingxiu, Zhou Yanmei, Zhang Mingxiu, Luo Qinghua, Wan Huabi, Wang Zhenping, and Yan XX.
“Wan Huabi and Wang Zhenping were released after the interrogation. Around 6pm Wang Zhenping was notified by the detention center that Wang Qingxiu was there. Luo Qinghua was found in the detention center the next day.The other three sisters are also in the detention center.”
The CAA story goes on to say that on the morning of March 30th, nine sisters and four children were taken by the policemen after their Sunday school service was let out. Another sister who was working in the cloth market was taken at the same time. All children and two elderly believers were released after the interrogation. For the rest of them, seven are in the detention center, and one sister is missing.
According to three copies of official criminal detention notices obtained by CAA, which were issued to family members of Ms. Wan Huabi, Ms. Wang Qingxiu and Ms. Lei Shibi on March 30, 2008 by the PSB of Qu County, Sichuan province, these arrested leaders were accused of being “suspected of using evil cult to obstruct the enforcement of the law.”
Ms. Li Xianbi, 59 years old, who is the host of the Sunday worship at her house on March 30, received 5 days administrative detention for “illegal gathering for evil cult activities.”
The Rev. Bob Fu, president of CAA said, “We are deeply concerned about the welfare of these detained Christian leaders. Their arbitrary detention totally contradicts the spirit of the rule of law.
“It is another step backward toward improving the religious freedom record in China as the Chinese government promised both before and after the 2008 Olympics was awarded to Beijing.”
For more information please visit: www.chinaaid.org
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