Saturday, June 4, 2011

China Detains House Church Alliance Official

06/03/2011 China (BosNewsLife) - Chinese authorities have detained a key official of  an influential umbrella group of house churches in China as part of a wider crackdown on unauthorized worship in the country, rights activists and Chinese Christians said Thursday, June 2.

Pastor Shi Enhao, the deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA), has been "administratively detained" for 12-days at the Suqian city detention center in coastal Jiangsu province, said advocacy group China Aid Association (CAA).

Another CHCA Christian, identified as Chinese woman Chang Meiling, also received the 12-daysentence at the same facility, CAA added. "Administrative detention" is the arrest and detention of individuals by the state without trial, usually for what officials call "security reasons". The practice has been criticized by human rights groups. Others lay leaders who were also detained with Pastor Shi and Chang on May 31, were released after twenty-four hours, CAA said.

HOME RAIDED
Additionally, a group of 10 people, apparently security forces, raided and searched Pastor Shi’s home on June 1, confiscating several books and other written materials, Chinese Christians said. The latest reported detentions came just days after CAA said two female house church ministers were taken into police custody in the far northwest region of Xinjiang were they were allegedly beaten.

CAA said the women, Li Tianping and Wang Ling, were detained by police in the city of Korlalate Saturday, May 28, and released early Sunday morning after hours of police mistreatment.  "Sources credited prayer for the speedy release," from the Sayibage police station, CAA said, citing local Chinese Christians.
The detentions reportedly occurred after police broke up an outdoor praise and worship service at a Korla square that was attended by some 100 house church Christians. (Source)

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