Annual Report of Persecution by the Government on ...crcs.sfp.cc/.../CRCS/media/NGO/Chinaaidreports/chinaaidreportE200… · The year 2008 was not an average year of persecution because

对华援助协会对华援助协会对华援助协会对华援助协会·美国—米德兰 China Aid Association 01/31/2009

Copyright reserved © ChinaAid Association, Inc. 2009

Annual Report of Persecution by the Government on Christian

House Churches within Mainland China

January 2008————————December 2008

(The Year of the Beijing Olympic Games)

ChinaAid Association USA

January 2009

ChinaAid Association

PO Box 8513

Midland, Texas 79708

Web: www.ChinaAid.org

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Toll Free: 1-888-889-7757

Fax: 1-432-686-8355

对华援助协会对华援助协会对华援助协会对华援助协会·China Aid Association 01/31/2009 Midland, Texas, USA


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Table of Contents

Part One. Heroes Who Are Persecuted Because of Righteousness

Part Two. Review and Summary—Persecution During the Year of the Beijing

Olympic Games

Part Three. List of Cases of Persecution

Part Four. Diagrams of Persecution Situation

Part Five: Epilogue—the Sacrifice for Freedom and Dignity

Definitions of terms as used in this report

Abuse: includes but is not limited to physical torture, beatings, sexual

harassment, and situations when children experience offensive threats and

insults by policemen or government officials.

Arrest: detention and criminal arrest. Note: detainment for interrogation alone

is not considered an arrest for statistics of this report.

Persecution: includes but is not limited to threats, inordinate fines, property

confiscation, interrogation, arrest, and abuses.

Threaten: harassment by words, insinuations, and gestures indicating unlawful

consequences to certain actions.



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Part One: Heroes Who Are Persecuted Because of Righteousness

Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti Mr. Wusiman Yiming Mr. Lou Yuanqi

(still in prison) (still in prison) (still in prison)

Mr. Shi Weihan Mr. Zhang Minxuan and Mr. Zhou Heng

(still in prison) his son Zhang Jian (released)

(released)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven.” ————————Matthew 5:10



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Part Two: Review and Summary—Persecution During the Year of the Beijing

Olympic Games

The year 2008 was not an average year of persecution because of the 29th

Olympic

Games in Beijing. Also for China, 2008 passed with traumatic events such as the Tibetan

riots, the Wen-chuan earthquake in Sichuan province, the San-lu poisonous milk powder

scandal and many riots and social activities that were suppressed with bloodshed and

beatings.

If one sees 2008 from another angle, he may witness more and more scholars who

have appealed to the Chinese government because of their knowledge of the independent

House Church Movement and who have lobbied the government to change its hostile

policy towards the House Church Movement. After the Sichuan earthquake, the Chinese

churches, especially house churches, started a large scale mercy mission of rescue and

reconstruction projects. According to the government statistics, out of about 1 million

rescue volunteers, 63% were Christians. Therefore, the house churches, especially the

urban ones, loom larger in transforming and influencing the society.

However, the Chinese government launched more serious persecution of the House

Church Movement in 2008, and it continues. During the year the human rights condition

decreased across the board, and the persecution of churches increased, yet the degree and

the scale of the persecution speaks the most loudly. As a Christian rights and religious

freedom defense organization, ChinaAid is fighting, as always, for the persecuted

Christians in China. By the grace of God, ChinaAid, under the leadership of Mr. Bob Fu,

worked very hard, to not only closely watch and accurately disclose the situation of

persecution of Christians by the Chinese government in 2008, but also to actively appeal

internationally for a response and to rescue and help persecuted Christians. In the

meantime, through honest diplomatic activities, accurate persecution reports, and timely

legal training and aid, ChinaAid also has worked to expand religious freedom in China.

Through a large amount of accurate facts and data plus texts and diagrams, this

report gives a detailed account of the intense and escalating persecution in 2008 in

comparison with the persecution that occurred in 2007.



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1. A Brief Introduction to the General Situation

The year of Beijing Olympic Games was tragically also a year of human rights

abuses in China. The significantly worse persecution of Christians in 2008 had a direct

relationship with the Olympic Games. From two statistics one can see the relationship

between the two clearly: the total number of people persecuted in Beijing was 539, up

418% from 104 of 2007; the total number of people persecuted was 2,027 in the nation,

up 157% from 788 in 2007. This is not hard to understand, because whenever the

government holds important social event, serious suppression is implemented to maintain

the appearance of stability through spreading fear among people. Beside the factor of the

Olympic Games, we cannot ignore that the persecution of Christianity and of some other

religions serves as an essential policy of the atheist Chinese Communist government.

Since Hu Jintao’s leadership as President began, the increase in the persecution of

Christianity is obvious. For example, according to our report last year, compared with the

year 2006, the overall intensity of persecution in 2007 rose by about 68.6%.

We need to stress, that the information received by ChinaAid is only a tip of the

iceberg compared with the total number of cases of persecution, and it could even be just

a very small part of them. However, this information covers a majority of provinces and

municipalities in China and involves many types of persecution. It is sufficient to reflect

the overall situation and the degree of persecution of house churches in the past year.

As in the past, there was persecution of Christians within mainland China in 2007.

In 2007, the known religious cases in which house churches were persecuted by the

government cover 17 provinces and two municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of

the Central Government. Among them, Henan and Beijing had most serious persecution,

along with Xinjiang, Shandong and Zhejiang (please refer to Part Four 5 and 6). There

were 74 cases of persecution, up 23.3% from that of 2007. The total number of people

persecuted was 2,027, up 157% from that of the year before. The total number of people

arrested was 764, up 10.2% from that of the year before. Thirty-five people were

sentenced to imprisonment, up 119% from that of year before. Nineteen cases of abuse

(beating, torture and psychological abuse) in persecution, up 10.2% from that of 2007 and

the number of people abused was 60, up 71.4%. Based on the above six indexes of the 1)



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total number of persecution cases, 2) the total number of people who suffered persecution,

3) the number of people arrested, 4) the number of people sentenced, 5) the total number

of abuse cases, and 6) the total number of people abused, the comprehensive calculation

of these figures shows that compared with the year 2007, the overall intensity of

persecution in 2008 rose by about 69.2%. Please refer to following diagrams.

Comparison of Persecution in the Country of China in 2006, 2007 and 2008

(1)Table of Comparison

2006 2007 2008 Rate of Increase

Incidents of

persecution

46 cases 60 cases 74 cases Up 23. 3%

Total number of

people persecuted

665 people 788 people 2027 people Up 157%

Total number of

people arrested

650 people 693 people 764 people Up 10. 2%

Number of people

sentenced


Abuse cases 4 cases 17 cases 19 cases Up 11.8%

Number of people

abused

7 people 35 people 60 people Up 71.4%

Overall level of

increase of persecution

According to the diagram below, the reference data is up about 69.2%

from 2007, and 127.3% from 2006.



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(2) Comparison of Diagrammatic Sketches

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Incidents of persecutionNumber of people persecuted x10Number of people arrested x10Number of people sentencedIncidents of abuseNumber of people abusedComparison of overall situition of persecution of 2006, 2007 and 2008

According to the above six indexes, we can see that the overall situation of

persecution in 2008 increased significantly, especially reflected from the number of

people persecuted, the number of people sentenced, and the number of people abused.

2. Five Characteristics of Persecution

(1) Against house church leaders: This was also a characteristic in 2006 and 2007

persecution. A total of 319 leaders were persecuted in 2008 which accounts for 15.7% of

all people suffering persecution. A total of 298 leaders were arrested in 2008 which

accounts for 39% of all people arrested. (Please refer to Part Three of this report.)

(2) Against house churches in urban areas. This was also a characteristic in 2007

persecution. Among the 74 cases of persecution, 49 of them occurred in urban areas (not

including towns and county towns). This is which accounts for 66.2% of the cases which

is higher than 58.3% reported in 2007. Among these, the number of people persecuted in



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urban areas is 1,436 which accounts for 70.8% of the total number cases of 2,027. It is

lower than the 76% reported in 2007.

(3) Highly increased rates of abuse cases against church leaders, female and

non-adult. There were 19 abuse cases in 2008 which accounts for 11.8% higher than

2007; total number of people abused is 61 which accounts for increase of 71.4% than last

year. Notable, the number of church leaders abused is 16 which accounts for 26.7%; the

number of the female abused is 11 which accounts for 18.3%; the number of the non-

adults is 31 which accounts for 51.7%.

(4) Against independent church entities that have international reputations. In

2008, Chinese government targeted on Chinese House Church Alliance, China Gospel

Fellowship and on-campus student ministries with harsh persecution. On November 28,

the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China issued No. 1 document of 2008 with declaration of

the abolishment of the Chinese House Church Alliance with the charge of being an

“unregistered” organization. Obviously the Chinese government has employed new

tactics to violate religious freedom.

(5) Overdue detention. In 2008, there were some cases where Christians were held

in detention long periods of time without sentencing. For example, Mr. Shi Weihan has

been detained more than 10 months, Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti more than 13 months and Mr.

Lou Yuanqi more than 8 months. None of them have been sentenced so far. Among the

three cases, both Alimujiang Yimiti and Lou Yuanqi were put on trial without any results

because the lack of conviction and proof, yet the government refuses to release them.

Judging from the above characteristics, we can see that Chinese government

launches their persecution against Christians mainly in urban cities, with tougher tactics.

3. Explanation on Methods and Characteristics in This Report

This report is divided in five parts. Part One: Heroes of Those Who are Persecuted

Because of Righteousness; Part Two: Review and Summary – Persecution During the

Year of the Beijing Olympic Games; Part Three: Lists of Cases of Persecution; Part Four:

Diagrams of Persecution Situation; Part Five: Epilogue—The Sacrifices for Freedom and

Dignity. In the first three parts, there are some minor ramifications.



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Part one is devoted to those well known church leaders in prison and their families.

Part two summarizes the situation of persecution of house churches and briefly compares

the 2007 situation with that of 2006. In addition to that, it also discusses the structure and

characteristics of this report.

Part Three explains in detail: the time, location, brief content, number of people

persecuted, number of people arrested (and the number of people in the previous year),

the number of people sentenced (and the number of people in the previous year), number

of persecution cases, number of abuse cases and number of abused people and links to

some of the news on ChinaAid’s website. This part is presented in a list divided in seven

administrative regions and three municipalities directly under the Central Government.

The reason why we divided it into the government’s administrative regions is mainly

because different administrative regions have their unique regional regulations and

cultural, economic and ethnic characteristics. This way, our readers can have a deeper

understanding of the persecution situation in this particular region.

Part Three also reflects the overall situation of the persecution and its characteristics

through diagrams of data. It is the visual explanation of the content in Part 2, including

the diagram on the persecution situation in provinces and municipalities directly under

the Central Government (please see Part Three, 5; 6).

Part Four is the epilogue and is mainly an analysis of the political reasons why

religious and human rights conditions have worsened in China since October 2004. It

also contains speculative analysis on the future religious and human rights situation in the

next two years and new suggestions are proposed in this part.

This report is entirely based upon the reports and investigations made by ChinaAid.

To be more accurate and objective, this report uses a conservative method of data

collection: i.e. We slightly reduce the critical data and the severity of the incidents. If

you find any errors, please contact ChinaAid immediately. Thank you.



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Part Three: List of Known Cases of Persecution by the Government on Christian

House Churches within Mainland China in 2008

Incidents of Persecution 74 cases

Total number of people persecuted 2,027 (319 church leaders)

Total number of people arrested 764 (298 church leaders））））

Number of people sentenced 35 people

Abuse cases 19 cases

Number of people abused 60 people

Number of church leaders abused 16 people

Number of the female abused 11 people

Number of the non-adult abused 31 people

(Some of news story links will direct you to the news in Chinese because we do not

have the corresponding stories published English)

1. Municipalities Directly Under the Jurisdiction of the Central Government.

Beijing····Shanghai (Total number of people persecuted：：：：> 539, last year > 104; Number of

people arrested: 117, last year 98; Number of people sentenced: 2, last year 2)

Date Incidents (15) Penalty Abuse (5 cases,

>8 person)

Number

of people

Beijing

02/01 Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan’s

family was forced to move by police

Abuse 2

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/02/18/president-of-chinese-house-church-alliance-issues-open-

letter-to-the-international-community/

02/27 Pastor Cai Zhuohua was summoned 1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/chinese_site/press_release_detail.php?id=4755

03/19 Mr. Shi Weihan, a Christian publisher,

was arrested

Criminal

detention

overdue

No access to formal

medical treatment,

his condition

worsened

1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/01/07/beijing-christian-businessman-shi-weihan-released-



10

under-international-pressure/

05/05 Abolished a Bible Conference >1

05/09 Pastor Dong Yuhong was arrested on

charges of illegal publishing

36 days of

detention

1

05/11 Shou-wang church raided >1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/12/shouwang-house-church-raided-by-beijing-

government-officials-major-beijing-house-church-leader-detained-the-situation-of-religious-freedom-in-china-prior-to-olympics-continues-to-worsen-2/

05/15 House church in Dr. Fan Yafeng’s

home was raided

>10

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/15/another-house-church-raided-in-beijing/

05/25 Beijing City Evangelical Church with 8

meeting locations raided, and Pastor

Gao Zhen was summoned

Detention,

forbidding

meetings

Some believers

were beaten

>200

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/27/1000-member-house-church-raided-in-beijing-

seminary-attacked-by-government-officials-in-shandong-province/

June House church leader Mr. Liu Xu was

arrested as an illegal meeting organizer

and threatened with anti-cults law

1 year of

labor camp

1


06/23 Beijing City Evangelical Church was

raided again

Abolishing

meetings

>200


07/02 The apartment of Mr. Hua Huiqi was

raided and attacked

Damaged

door

Hua Huiqi and his

brother were

beaten

3


09/10 Hua Huiqi and his brother were detained on

the way to join a church service with President

George W. Bush

Detention 2

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/08/10/president-bush-visited-officially-staged-church-service-

house-church-pastor-hua-huiqi-arrested-and-escaped-from-police-custody/

10/16 The son of Pastor Bike, Zhang Jian,

was beaten terribly

Violence used

against three

persons

3



11

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/10/16/son-of-pastor-bike-zhang-in-critical-condition-after-

severe-beating-from-psb-officials/

09/27 A Beijing college on-campus meeting

was raided, two leaders were arrested.

Detention,

kicked out of

school

>110

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/03/more-than-400-college-students-in-beijing-and-

hangzhou-detained-and-interrogated-four-church-leaders-sentenced-to-labor-camps/

Incidents of

persecution

14

Number of the

arrested >127

Abuse

cases

4

Being

sentenced

2

Overdue

detention

1

Total number of

the persecuted

>536

Shanghai

09/22 House church of Mr. Luo Guangdao was

raided

The pastor

arrested

>3


Incidents of

persecution

1

The arrested

1

Abuse cases

0

The sentenced

0

Total number

of the

persecuted

>3

2、、、、Northeast China····Heilongjiang————————Jilin（（（（Total number of people persecuted：：：：>24,

last year 3; people arrested >14, last year 3））））

Date Incidents (3) Penalty in the

name of law

Abuse (2 cases,

2 people)

Number

of people

Heilongjiang

06/18 Coworkers meeting was raided in Yi-

chun city; more than 10 persons arrested,

1 woman was beaten

Detention and

interrogation

Beating people >10


07/02 3 church leaders (2 female) were arrested

and further threatened in He-gang city

Detention 3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/07/07/heilongjiang-house-church-persecuted-in-coordinated-

effort-by-chinese-federal-agencies/

From mid-

October

Yi-chun city government forbids all

house church gatherings

>10



12

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/10/29/yichun-house-churches-banned/

Incidents of

persecution: 3

Number of the

arrested: 13

Abuse

cases: 1

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

>23

Jilin

05/04 A house church was raided in Yan-ji city;

church teacher Ms. Hao Yuji was

arrested and beaten

Detention Being beaten 1


Incidents of

persecution: 1

Number of the

arrested: 1

Abuse

cases: 1

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

1

3. Northern China····Inner Mongolia————Hebei····（（（（Total number of persecuted

people：：：：>66, last year 65; the number of people arrested 65, last year 64））））


name of law

Abuse (2 cases,

4 people)

Number

of people

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

02/20 A house church was raided in Xi-lin-

hao-te city; Pastor David Wang, a

Korean visiting church teacher and

40 coworkers were arrested

Detention,

confiscation of

Bibles and other

books, plus fine

42

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/02/21/more-than-40-members-of-chinese-house-church-

alliance-detained-in-inner-mongolia-south-korean-minister-also-missing/

Prior to the

Spring

Festival

13 arrested in a house church in

A-rong-qi

Confiscation of

Bibles and

kitchen utilities

13

05/01

The house church in A-rong-qi

was raided and sealed, and three

leaders were arrested

Detention,

confiscation of

books and food

3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/06/house-churches-of-inner-mongolia-and-xinjiang-

attacked-12-people-detained-for-one-day-bibles-and-christian-books-confiscated/

07/06————07/25

4 house church leaders were

arrested in Wu-lan-hao-te city

Detention,

confiscation of

1 person was

tortured and

4



13

and tortured books and

computer

another one was

sick near death

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/07/31/four-missionaries-in-inner-mongolia-arrested-and-

subjected-to-torture-by-police/

12/11 Pastor “Bike” Zhang Minxuan was

arrested when he visited four house

church leaders in Wu-lan-hao-te city

Secret detention 1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/22/pastor-bike-detained-in-inner-mongolia-then-released-after-

international-pressure/

Incidents of

persecution: 5

Number of the

arrested: 63

Abuse

case: 1

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

63

Hebei

12/18 A house church in Heng-shui city was raided;

the policemen took away church accounting

materials, beat 1 church leader and women,

and arrested 2 people

Detention Beating

women

>3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/26/christmas-day-persecution-in-anhui-henan-and-

xinjiang-13-christians-in-prison/

Incidents of

persecution: 1

Number of the

arrested: 2

Abuse

case: 1

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

>3

4. Northwest China····Xinjiang————Gansu ····（（（（Total number of people persecuted：：：：>112,

last year >115; number of people arrested: 85, last year: 35; number of people sentenced: 0, last

year: 0; overdue detained people: 2））））


name of law

Abuse (3 cases,

33 people)

Number

of people

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

01/12 Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti was

arrested

Over due

detention

1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/01/15/one-christian-leader-in-xinjiang-arrested/

Wusiman Yiming, a Uyghur Christian who

was sentenced to two years labor camp last

year, was abused in the prison

Lack of nutrition, long

hours of hard labor,

hands bruised

1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/04/09/uyghur-christian-faces-possible-execution-for-



14

%e2%80%98subversion-of-national-government%e2%80%99-2/

02/12 Jia-he-yuan Church Sunday school in

Wulumuqi was raided, and 3 people were

arrested

Detention and

interrogation

More than 20

children were

threatened

>23

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/02/12/three-house-church-leaders-in-xinjiang-detained-church-

facing-destruction-by-government/

02/28 Pastor Lou Yuanqi’s house church Sunday

school in Qing-shui town, Huo-cheng

county, Yi-li region was raided, and 13

people arrested, including 11 youths. They

were released the next day.

Detention No food and

heating in the

very cold winter

13


02/28 Xin-yuan government detained 3 youth 15 days of

detention for 2

of them

3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/03/03/70-house-church-leaders-detained-in-shangqiu-city-henan-

province/

03/30

The house church leader in Hou-cheng Yi-li

was arrested and released on the same day

Detention,

interrogation

and search

3


04/13 The house church led by Mr. Ding Zhichun

and Ms. Ma Wenxiu in Sha-che county of

Kashgar was raided; 44 people were

arrested and interrogated for one day; 2

people were detained for 15 days

Detention, 50

Yuan fine for

each person

44

For the details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/04/17/46-christians-arrested-in-kashi-xinjiang-2-detained-for-

15-days/

04/23 10 people were arrested and released on the

same day in Huo-cheng

Detention 10

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/06/house-churches-of-inner-mongolia-and-xinjiang-attacked-12-

people-detained-for-one-day-bibles-and-christian-books-confiscated/

05/16 The house church leader Lou Yuan-qi in

Hou-cheng Yi-li was arrested

Overdue

detention until

today

1



15

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/19/prominent-house-church-leader-detained-in-xinjiang-on-

separatism-charge/

12/24 The house church in Yi-ning led by Pastor Xie

Xianhua was abolished; the pastor was threaten

with arrest

Abolished

the church

>1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/30/nine-arrested-on-christmas-eve-in-henan-four-detained/

12/25 A house church in Qi-tai county was

raided; seven leaders were arrested

Detention 7

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/26/christmas-day-persecution-in-anhui-henan-and-xinjiang-13-

christians-in-prison/

Incidents of

persecution

10

Number of

the arrested

80

Abuse case

3

Number of

the sentenced

0

Overdue

detention

2

Total number of

the persecuted

>107

Gansu

06/24 A house church in Ping-chuan coal mine town of

Bai-yin city was raided; the leaders, Wang

Fayuan and Mr. & Ms. Chen were arrested

3 and 10 days of

detention; 1,000Yuan

fine for each

5

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/06/30/house-church-in-baiyin-gansu-province-persecuted-five-

people-placed-under-administrative-detention/

Incidents of

persecution: 1

Number of the

arrested: 5

Abuse case: 0 Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

persecuted

5

5. Eastern China····Shandong————Anhui————Zhejiang————Jiangsu····（（（（Total number of

people persecuted：：：：>584, last year >365; people arrested: >110, last year: >365; people

sentenced: 26, last year: 2））））


name of law

Abuse (2;

7 people)

Number

of people

Shandong

January 21 house church leaders in Linyi city of

Shandong, where 4 women arrested last

December, were sentenced for labor camp

Labor camp 1.5-3

years, plus fine

21

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/02/18/21-major-house-church-leaders-sent-to-labor-camp-in-

shandong-at-the-same-time/

05/01 Some Christians in Jiaxiang county were Detention,



16

05/03 persecuted; 4 were arrested including 2

women

confiscation and

10,000 Yuan fine

4

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/05/08/seven-house-church-leaders-in-shandong-detained-for-

bible-study-one-pastor-from-taiwan-expelled-one-house-church-pastor-wounded/

05/08 A house church Bible study class in Qing-

zhou raided; 2 were arrested; the Taiwan

pastor was expelled.

Detention,

confiscation of

instruments, and

fine

2 old men

were

beaten

27


05/27 A house church seminary was

raided; some of them were sent back

to their hometown; 5 Christians were

arrested; 1 woman was beaten

Detention,

confiscation of car

and other properties

5 people were

beaten and

called bad

names

51


07/03 Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced for

two years labor camp under anti-cult law

Labor camp 1


07/14 3 Christians in Jianxiang who knew pastor

Zhang Zhongxin were interrogated and two

of them were arrested

Confiscation of

properties and

detention

3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/07/09/pastor-zhang-zhongxin-sentenced-to-two-years-re-

education-through-labor-by-shandong-officials/

09/20 Glory Gospel Church in Yantai was raided Confiscation of

books, etc

60

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/10/01/shandong-house-church-raided-hymnals-and-cross-

confiscated/

12/03 A house church meeting with more than 40

participants in Xiji town of Zao-zhuang city

Shan-ting district was raided, and more than

20 were arrested

Detention >40

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/04/large-number-of-christians-arrested-in-henan-and-

shandong/

Incidents of

persecution

8

Number of

the arrested

>34

Abuse case

2

Number of the

sentenced: 22

Expulsion

from the

country: 1

Total number

of the

persecuted

>207



17

Anhui

12/22 A house church in Dianlongcun, Yang-hu town,

Dong-zhi county was sealed, and 21 people in Bible

class were arrested

Detention 21


12/25 A house church in Christmas celebration was

raided, and 2 leaders were arrested

Detention 2

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/26/christmas-day-persecution-in-anhui-henan-and-xinjiang-

13-christians-in-prison/

Incidents of

persecution: 2

Number of the

arrested: 23


sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

23

Zhejiang

01/31 2 female Christians in Shujiang district of

Taizhou were arrested while they were

evangelizing in the bus station

Detention

4


11/02 University on-campus house church was raided

and more than 300 Christians were arrested, 49

leaders and house church members were

arrested, and a number of them were sentenced

9 were

detained, 4

were put in

labor camp

>300

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/03/more-than-400-college-students-in-beijing-and-hangzhou-

detained-and-interrogated-four-church-leaders-sentenced-to-labor-camps/

Incidents of

persecution: 2

Number of the

arrested: >53


sentenced: 4

Total number of

the persecuted

>304

Jiangsu

12/18 The church building in Huqu southern Yan city

was torn down by the government, and more

than 50 believers were raided, and more than

10 were beaten.

More than 10

people were

beaten

>50

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/22/registered-church-in-jiangsu-province-demolished-

christians-beaten/

Incidents of

persecution: 1

Number of the

arrested: 0


sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

>50



18

6. Southern China····Guangdong····（（（（Total number of people persecuted：：：：>60, last year 4;

people arrested: 0, last year: 0; people sentenced: 0, last year: 0））））

Date Incident (1) Penalty in the

name of law

Abuse (0) Number of

people

Guangdong

12/26 More than 60 believers meeting in Liangren

Church in Guangzhou were raided, and

Pastor Wang Dao was interrogated

Interrogation, confiscation

of computer, etc.

properties

> 60

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/18/liangren-house-church-speaks-out-about-raid/

7. Central China····Henan····（（（（Total number of people persecuted：：：：>533, last year >120;

people arrested: 315, last year: 119 ; people sentenced: 5, last year: 9））））


name of law

Abuse (2 cases,

2 people)

Number

of people

Henan

01/05 Tian Minge, Su Dean and Wang Hongliang, three of

leaders of Southern China Church, were arrested by

Gansu government, and transferred to Henan

government. 2 of them were detained.

Detention

3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/01/08/tian-min-ge-su-dean-prominent-leaders-of-fangcheng-

house-church-of-henan-arrested/

01/28 Bai Cheng, a returning student from America in Luo-

yang city, was arrested because of evangelizing. 17

people in the house church meeting were arrested,

including children; 2 were arrested.

Detention

confiscation

of computer

and car, etc.

17


02/19 2 female coworkers in the Chinese House Church

Alliance were arrested in the train station of Luo-he

city.

Detention 5


02/01 The Bible training class in the house of Mr. Xue

Weimin and Ms. Fenrong in Huang-gang Ling-ning

Shang-qiu city was raided. There were 250 believers

Detention

250



19

present. 70 leaders were arrested including 39 women

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/03/03/70-house-church-leaders-detained-in-shangqiu-city-henan-

province/

04/13 120 house church believers in a meeting were raided

and arrested

Detention > 120


05/28 2 house church believers of Hua county were arrested

because they called for a prayer activity for Sichuan

earthquake

Detention 7


06/01 7 believers in a house church in Taikang were

arrested, including a mother with her child

Detention,

1,000Yuan fine

for each

Abuse 7


08/06 The president of the Chinese House Alliance,

Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan, his wife Xie

Fenglan and coworker Wu Jiang were arrested

by Zhengzhou city police

Detention 3


10/12 More than 20 believers in a house church of

Nan-yang city were raided, 5 Christians were

arrested, and Pastor Zhu Baoguo was sentenced

to one year of labor camp.

Detention and

labor camp

> 20


11/28 Chinese House Church Alliance was abolished by

Chinese government; the president Pastor Bike

Zhang and 17 other believers were arrested in

Nan-yang city

Detention,

confiscation

of Bibles, etc

Abuse > 18

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/11/30/china-issued-decision-statement-on-abolishment-of-

chinese-house-church-alliance/

12/03 More than 40 believers of a house church in

Tai-kang county were arrested.

Detention > 40

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/04/large-number-of-christians-arrested-in-henan-and-

shandong/

11/10 Mao Minzi, a house church leader in Luo-yang Labor camp 1



20

city, was sentenced to one year of labor camp

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/11/christian-mao-minzi-sentenced-to-re-education-through-

labor/

12/16 More than 30 house church believers in Nan-

yang city were arrested

Detention and fine > 30

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/18/christian-wedding-raided-in-sichuan-%e2%80%93-bride-

groom-and-guests-arrested/

12/25 9 house church leaders in Yu-cheng were arrested when

they were in the performance of a Christmas celebration

Detention and

fine

9

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/30/nine-arrested-on-christmas-eve-in-henan-four-detained/

12/16 3 house church leaders in Tai-kang were sentenced for

one year labor camp

Labor camp 3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2009/01/06/three-christians-sentenced-to-one-year-of-re-education-

through-labor-in-zhoukou-henan/

Incidents of

persecution: 15

Number of the

arrested: 315

Abuse cases: 2 Number of the

sentenced: 5

Total number of

the persecuted

>533

8、、、、Southwest China····Sichuan————Yunnan————Guizhou····（（（（Total number of people

persecuted: >109, last year >12; people arrested: 59, last year: 9 ;people sentenced: 2, last year:

0））））


name of law

Abuse (3 cases,

5 people

Number of

people

Sichuan

03/29-30 20 believers were arrested in Qu county; 7

were detained; 2 were sent to labor camp

Detention and labor

camp

20

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/06/24/sichuan-church-faces-government-persecution-20-

arrested-7-detained-2-sentenced-to-education-through-labor/

05/02 44 believers in Qiu-yu-zhi-fu Church were

raided in Cheng-du city

Confiscation of Bibles

and other properties

44


12/17 More than 30 Christians including the bride and

bridegroom were arrested at a wedding in Da-zhu county

Detention 29

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/18/christian-wedding-raided-in-sichuan-%e2%80%93-

bride-groom-and-guests-arrested/



21

12/24 Christian volunteers in No. 2 Jingjia village, Qu-

chuan, Beichuan county were raided with the local

families they served as victims, and 3 were arrested

Beating, insult,

confiscation of

Bibles,

motorbike,etc.

> 3

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/12/27/christians-in-earthquake-disaster-areas-raided-by-police-

on-christmas-eve/

Incidents of

persecution: 4

Number of the

arrested: 53

Abuse cases:1 Number of the

sentenced: 2

Total number of

the persecuted

>96

Yunnan

01/23 2 house church leaders of Kun-ming city were beaten by

National Security Bureau

Beating 4

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/01/30/house-church-members-beaten-after-demanding-officials-

to-account-for-the-burning-of-bibles/

02/02 2 female Christians in San-jiang-kou village, Jun-tun,

Mou-ding county, Chu-xiong prefecture, were

arrested when they distributed Gospel flyers, and

were forced to be naked in police station for search

Detention,

confiscation

of Christian

materials

Insulted 2


08/17 4 American Christians were detained

because of smuggling Bibles in Kun-

ming city airport

4


10/16 Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan was

arrested in Kun-ming city airport

Sent back to

Henan

1

For details：：：：http://chinaaid.org/2008/11/30/china-issued-decision-statement-on-abolishment-of-

chinese-house-church-alliance/

Incidents of

persecution: 4

Number of the

arrested: 3

Abuse

cases: 2

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

11

Guizhou

05/05 4 house church leaders in Er-li, Xi-shui

county were arrested

15 days of

detention

4


Incidents of

persecution: 1

Number of the

arrested: 4

Abuse

cases: 0

Number of the

sentenced: 0

Total number of

the persecuted

4



22

Part Four: Diagram of persecution of Christian house churches by the government

in 2007 within mainland China

1. Diagram of Persecution Incidents and Abuse Cases in the Regions

15

54

2

6

2

11

3

13

21

0

15

2

9

3

0123456789

1011121314151617

Municipilaties

Northeast C

hina

Northern C

hina

Northw

est China

Eastern C

hina

Southern C

hina

Central C

hina

Southw

est China

Incidents of persectution Abuse cases

2、、、、Diagram of Number of People Persecuted and Arrested in the Regions

539

117

241466 65

11285

584

11060

0

533

314

10959

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

Municipalities

Northeast C

hina

Northern C

hina

Northw

est China

Eastern C

hina

Southern China

Central C

hina

Southwest C

hina

No. of People Persecuted No. of People Arrested



23

3、、、、Diagram of Ratio of Types of Persecution Across the Nation (Note: Number of

each type compare to the total number of the persecuted: 2,027)

1263 people

62.3%35 people 1.7%

60 people 3.0%

764 people

37.7%

Arrested SentencedRaided and Harassed Abused

4. Diagram of Percentage of Church Leaders, Women and Children / Youth

Abused Compared with the Total Number of People Abused

16 people

26.7%

11 people

18.3%

31 people

51.7%

Church leaders Women Children and youth



24

5. Diagram of Number of People Persecuted and Arrested in the Various Provinces and Municipalities Directly Under the

Central Government

536

127

3 123

13 1 1

63 63

3 2

107

80

5 5

207

342323

304

53 50

0

60

0

533

315

96

52

11 3 4 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

360

380

400

420

440

460

480

500

520

540

Beijing

ShanghaiHeilongjiang

Jilin

Inner Mongolia

Hebei

Xinjiang

Gansu

ShandongAnhui

Zhejiang

Jiangsu

Guangdong

Henan

Sichuan

Yunnan

Guizhou

Number of the persecuted Number of the arrested



25

6. Diagram of Number of People Persecuted and Arrested in the Various Provinces and Municipalities Directly under the

Central Government

536

127

3 123

13 1 1

63 63

3 2

107

80

5 5

207

342323

304

53 50

0

60

0

533

315

96

52

11 3 4 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

360

380

400

420

440

460

480

500

520

540

Beijing

ShanghaiHeilongjiang

Jilin

Inner Mongolia

Hebei

Xinjiang

Gansu

ShandongAnhu

Zhejiang

Jiangsu

Guangdong

Henan

Sichuan

Yunnan

Guizhou

Number of the persecuted Number of the arrested



26

7. Comparison of Persecution in the Country in 2006, 2007 and 2008

(1)Table of Comparison

2006 2007 2008 Rate of Increase

Incidents of persecution 46 cases 60 cases 74 cases Up 23. 3%

Total number of people

persecuted

665

people

788 people 2027 people Up 157%

Total number of people

arrested

650

people

693 people 764 people Up 10. 2%

Number of people

sentenced


Abuse cases 4 cases 17 cases 19 cases Up 11.8%

Number of people abused 7 people 35 people 60 people Up 71.4%

Overall level of increase of

persecution

According to the express of the diagram below, the reference

data is about 69.2% of 2007, and 127.3% of 2006.

(2) Comparison of Diagrammatic Sketches

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Incidents of persecutionNumber of people persecuted x10Number of people arrested x10Number of people sentencedIncidents of abuseNumber of people abusedComparison of overall situition of persecution of 2006, 2007 and 2008



27

Part Five: Epilogue

We can see from the above report that compared with the 2007 report, the severity

of persecution of Christian house churches within mainland China by the Chinese

government rose by a considerable margin in 2008. If we express it with comprehensive

reference data, the level of persecution rose by about 69.2%, and about 127.3% compared

with that of 2006. This report speaks loudly that Mr. Hu Jintao who heads the Chinese

government still holds the narrow minded strategy of ideological conflict, and stands

against the Chinese Constitution and breaks China’s solemn promise on human rights and

religious freedom in the global community.

Last year in the 2007 Persecution Report we estimated “that in 2008, the Chinese

government will fool the domestic and the international communities with more skill,

diplomatic means, and public opinion while continuing its religious and political

persecution and persecution of human rights so that they can create an image that they

have made progress in the human rights condition in China while cracking down more

effectively on various types of religious, political, economic, and international political

forces, and other forces that challenge the ideology and rule of the CPC and its privileged

class. In this way, they can purify and consolidate the Han chauvinist ideology integrated

from ‘Communist politics and Confucian ethics’ based on atheism and nationalism.”

According to this report of 2008, and the events we witnessed how Chinese government

and overseas Chinese students reacted around the issue of Tibet and the Olympics with

radical and hostile action towards anyone holding a different view from theirs, the “Great

China Ideology” has been proven to be astonishingly successful before the world.

We also predicted in 2007 report “that the Chinese government will reduce the

level of persecution ostensibly on Christianity, especially house churches and ostensibly

improve the human rights conditions in other areas.” This prediction proved to be

thoroughly wrong.

China is in a chaotic condition with human rights trampled, freedom of belief

deprived, ethics and morality collapsing and disadvantaged people being suppressed. The

persecution of Christianity is a symbolic indication that the way to new hope and faith for



28

the Chinese is blocked. In such a battle of light and darkness, millions Chinese Christians

strive to live consistently with Biblical teachings, to evangelize and disciple, to be salt

and light in the society, and to treat neighbors with love and justice. Even today, many

Christian are still serving the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, despite persecution.

They are not weak, yet they are willing to forgive and bless those who persecute them.

They long for a righteous political system in China, but they still obey the government

and pray the nation. They understand what Martin Luther King Jr. proposed for a just

peace, freedom and human dignity through non-violent means; they show what their faith

is, and live out the image of Jesus Christ in persecution.

If someone thinks that these Chinese Christians are striving only for Christianity

and the Chinese nation, he misunderstands, because they firmly believe that what they

suffer is the sacrifice for human dignity and freedom.

According to this 2008 Persecution Report by ChinaAid, we can predict that in

2009 persecution will continue to increase and other aspects of human rights will

decrease. The persecution in 2009 will likely be targeted towards the Urban House

Church Movement.

In last year report, ChinaAid suggests that in the year of 2009 that those who

provide information of persecution enhance their awareness of accuracy in their news.

While they should accurately and in a timely manner tell us the time, location, people

involved, reason, process and follow-up events of a religious case, they should also

include the name, position, gender and other accurate information of the persecutor,

especially the abuser. Starting from this year, ChinaAid will also collect the information

of persecutors as well as that of people being persecuted. In 2008, the news and

information submitted met the suggestions well. In 2009, please also take care to indicate

the female and non-adult in persecution in news you want to submit to us. Thank you.

Finally we call your special attention on the following Christians who are

detained overdue in prison. They are Alimujiang Yimiti, Wusiman Yiming, Shi Weihan,

Lou Yuanqi. (Click the link to watch a three-minute video of Alimujiang Yimiti and

Wusiman Yiming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzEF0jIGenE )

May God bless China and all the people who are working with us toward

complete freedom of belief in the great land of China!

Documents

Annual Report of Persecution by the Government on ...crcs.sfp.cc/.../CRCS/media/NGO/Chinaaidreports/chinaaidreportE200… · The year 2008 was not an average year of persecution because