Jiangsu: police attack Christians as they pray
Suyang (AsiaNews) – Police in the eastern Jiangsu province have attacked a prayer meeting of Protestant Christians. Without bothering to identify themselves they confiscated biblical texts and beat members of the community who refused to show their identity cards (ID), according to the China Aid Association (CAA), a US-based non-governmental organization that lobbies for religious freedom in China.
On 7 February, police from Shanghuang City broke into the home of Tan Jiuanwei, a 36-year-old Protestant Christian who was hosting an unofficial prayer meeting. The police officers were joined by representatives of the provincial religious affairs office and members of the national protection squad.
The armed group entered the apartment without a warrant. The police officers demanded to see the ID cards of those present who were also photographed. Some Christians refused to supply their ID cards and were beaten.
After confiscating some biblical texts – without providing a receipt as stipulated by Chinese law – the police officers took away three people for “interrogation”. At the police station, they were forced to sign a document promising not to hold religious services in Tan’s house anymore. The police threatened them with “very serious consequences” if they breached their promise.
Beijing allows the practice of Protestant Christianity only within the Movement of the Three Autonomies (MTA), born in 1950 after Mao seized power and the expulsion of foreign missionaries and church leaders, including Chinese ones.
Official statistics reveal that there are 10 million official Protestants in China, all belonging to the MTA. Unofficial Protestants, who meet in unregistered “house churches”, are estimated to reach more than 50 million.
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