China Arrests Dozens Of Underground Church Pastors, US Foreign Minister Asks To Be Released Immediately
JAKARTA - Chinese police detained dozens of priests from one of its largest underground churches over the weekend. This is the biggest crackdown on Christians since 2018.
The detention that broke out amid tensions overheated again after Beijing dramatically expanded land export controls last week, drawing criticism from Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.
Rubio on Sunday called for the priests' immediate release.
Reported by Reuters on Monday, October 13, Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of the Zion Church, the government's unofficial "home church", was detained at his home in the southern Chinese city of Beihai, on Friday evening, said his daughter, Grace Jin, and church spokesman Sean Long.
"What just happened is part of a new wave of religious persecution this year," Long said, adding police examined more than 150 congregants and stepped up harassment in face-to-face Sunday services in recent months.
Speaking to Reuters from his home in the United States, Long said at around the same time, authorities detained nearly 30 priests and church members across the country, but later released five people.
"About 20 priests and church leaders are still being held," he added.
Police in Beihai could not be reached by telephone for comment. Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Public Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment via telephone.
Jin, 56, is being held at Detention Center No. 2 of Beihai City on suspicion of "illegal use of information networks", according to a notification of Long's official detention to Reuters. The indictment has a maximum prison sentence of seven years.
Supporters fear Jin and other pastors could eventually be charged with illegally using the internet to spread religious information.
"He was hospitalized with diabetes. We are worried because he needs treatment," said Grace Jin. "I have also been told lawyers are not allowed to meet with priests, so it is very worrying for us," Jin continued.