Olympics crackdown on Chinese Christians
May 05 2008
Postings >> China

There are signs that things are getting tougher for Christians in China in the run-up to the Olympic Games.

A new report says China is clamping down on any potential dissent to try to portray a peaceful and harmonious image to the rest of the world.

Partners of Release International, which serves the persecuted Church, have logged a 30 per cent increase in incidents against Christians, with a growing number of church leaders arrested or detained.

According to Release partners China Aid Association the current crackdown is being run on similar lines to that against Buddhist monks in neighbouring Tibet, who are being forced to swear allegiance to the government.

The US State Department confirms police have been interrogating house church leaders about the possibility of disrupting the Games – such is their concern to prevent any possible protests.

The clampdown is harshest in Xinjiang, where the authorities have launched what they describe as the ‘Anti-illegal Christian activities campaign.’ They have arrested 46 house church Christians for worshipping in a private home without government permission.

Another Xinjiang Christian, Alimujiang Yimiti, could face the death sentence for allegedly endangering national security. Yimiti, who works for British company Jirehouse, was initially accused of illegal religious activities. Friends say he has been targeted because of his Christian faith.

It’s not uncommon for the authorities to bring criminal charges against Christian workers to avoid the appearance of persecution.

Earlier, Olympic Games police beat up Christian leader Hua Huiqi and his elderly mother near the Olympic Village. Observers believe the reason they arrested and jailed them was to put an end to Hua’s human rights campaigning.

Amnesty International warns that the Olympic Games have failed to spur the Chinese authorities to make human rights reforms. They say the current wave of repression is occurring because of the Olympics.
 
‘Such arrests create a climate of fear that completely undermine claims by China to permit freedom of worship,’ says Release International’s CEO Andy Dipper. ‘The Olympic spotlight means the world’s eyes are on that nation, and the world is watching for reform. Release and others will continue to campaign for real freedom of faith in China.’

Christian publishers and distributors are among the key targets in this latest crackdown. Police have re-arrested Shi Wehan, the owner of a Christian bookshop near Beijing’s Olympic Village.

The 37-year-old father-of-two was first detained in November last year. He’s charged with publishing Bibles and Christian literature. The shortage of Bibles in China is so acute that some members of unregistered churches have to take it in turns to borrow the only copy of the Scriptures.

Through its partners, Release International serves the persecuted Church in 30 nations.