Release International

The Chinese authorities have dismissed as a 'smear campaign' claims that their persecution of unregistered church groups intensified last year.

The number of Christians arrested in 2008 may run into thousands, according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry hit back at the report, claiming it was an 'attempt to smear China'. 'It is a fact that the Chinese Government protects its citizens' freedom of religious belief according to law, and every ethnic group in any part of China enjoys full religious freedom,' he told Xinhua, a Chinese daily newspaper.

The USCIRF did point out that Chinese citizens in many areas were freer to take part in 'officially sanctioned religious activity' – including state-sanctioned churches such as those belonging to the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

But the Commission highlighted that unregistered religious groups suffered increased harassment, imprisonment and torture. It noted in particular the targeting of lawyers who had dared to defend Christians in court. One such lawyer – Gao Zhisheng, a Christian from Beijing – has not been seen since he was arrested in February (Prayer Alert, April 7, 2009). He was tortured during a previous spell of detention in 2007.

And the persecution continues. Sixteen Christians are still in custody after being arrested at a house church in Xinye city, Henan province, on April 30. The 16, all members of the China Gospel Fellowship, include ten preachers from Hubei province.

(Sources: ChinaAid, Compass Direct)

Pray that the Chinese authorities will respond to international scrutiny of their religious rights record by deciding to allow greater religious liberty.
Continue to pray for Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Sign Release partner ChinaAid’s petition calling for Gao’s release at www.FreeGao.com

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