Release International

More than 25 believers are still detained after thousands of Christians confronted police over the demolition of a large church in China.

RI sources say security officials clashed with peaceful protestors who tried to stop them destroying a church in Dangshan town, Xiaoshan district, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, on July 29. Eyewitnesses said police used electric stun batons to beat 'several hundred' believers, according to Compass news agency.

China Aid reports that 'several hundred trucks, four excavators and thousands of military policemen' had surrounded the building where up to 10,000 Christians were praying.

More than 50 Christians were initially detained. At the time of writing, 20 had been released; five had been told officially that they were 'criminally detained'. More than 20 people remain locked up without charge. Many have been tortured, says China Aid.

The church, which has been forced to relocate many times, had nearly been completely rebuilt on private land owned by a Christian couple. The Xiaoshan District government had reportedly declared the church 'illegal' the previous day, because it was built 'without government permission'. Compass reports that the congregation has made many formal requests to build a church but always been denied permission.

The Chinese House Church Alliance is now demanding an independent international inquiry. A short video of the demolition, posted online by China Aid, can be viewed at: http://www.zippyvideos.com/7644564155728186/p7290032/

Meanwhile, as 7x7 predicted on August 1, four pastors of the Chinese House Church Alliance from Sichuan province have each been sentenced to two years' hard labour. Li Ming, Wang Yuan, Li Mingbo and Jin Jirong were detained in Langzhong in June -- simply because they asked police to release their fellow believers detained the previous day.

Act

• Write a polite letter of protest about the church demolition to: Secretary Xi Jinping, Party General Secretary of Zhejiang Province, at No. 1, Sheng Fu Lu, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 310025, China. Alternatively, write to: His Excellency Mr Zha Peixin, Embassy of the People's Republic of China, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 4JL.

Pray

• Pray for all those injured and arrested in the event of July 29. Pray for the swift release of those being detained -- and for justice for the whole congregation.
• Thank God for global media coverage of this demolition: pray that international scrutiny will prevent the Chinese authorities from harassing the church further.

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