Authorities have reportedly arrested a church pastor, her daughter, and her three-year-old grandson for preaching in public, in south-east China, weeks after being accused of overstepping China’s newly tightened religious restrictions.
The three were detained on September 22, after they took part in an independent church’s efforts to spread the Gospel in Xianning’s city parks, according to media reports.
The two women are said to be part of the unregistered congregation, Zion Church, a group frequently targeted by Chinese authorities. Under current Chinese law, all religious institutions must register. However, many ‘underground churches’ do not.
A Chinese woman prays at a government-approved Catholic Cathedral in Beijing (file photo)
Academics believe China’s crackdown on independent faith is connected to its recent tough measures on religious extremism, while stepping up security.
However, an acclaimed writer specialised on religious topics, said the pastor and her daughter had stepped out of line by evangelising in public spaces as it is still illegal in China.
Pastor Xu Shizhen and daughter Xu Yuqing were allegedly detained by police and officials from the religious affairs bureau, according to Christian human rights organisation, China Aid.
The officers claimed that because the Church was not officially registered and the ‘religious activities’ took place outside of approved venues, they were illegal.
The authorities also seized the pastor’s grandson, Xu Shouwang. Police reportedly informed concerned family members on September 24 they had separated the women from the child and were keeping him at the station.
At the same time, the police had transferred the child’s grandmother and mother to other facilities, reported China Aid, which claimed the story had been written by their local reporter close to the matter.
It is uncertain of whether they are under criminal or administrative detention. Their exact whereabouts following the arrest are unknown.
By singing, dancing, and preaching in the city’s parks and public spaces, Xu’s ministry had apparently broke the new law, which confines most faith activities to the walls of registered churches.
Registered: The Three-Self Patriotic Movement is a church accepted across China (file photo)
Currently, China only recognises two Christian religions: the Chinese Catholic Church and the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement, both monitored by officials.
Apparently, this is not the first time Xu has got into trouble with Chinese authorities.
Five years ago, she had a run-in with officials when her house church was seized and handed over to the state approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church, according to website, Christianity Today.
Xu left the church and founded a new one, it was after this incident she founded her current ‘home’ church.
Many believe the clampdown is to show how serious it is about its new rules on regulating religion to enhance security, and curbing the practice of faith which is not approved by the state.
Chinese Catholics attend midnight mass at Dongjiao Min Xiang Church in Beijing (file photo)
An academic who researches Chinese Christianity at Berlin’s Mercator Institute for China Studies, Phil Entwistle, explained to the Mailonline that the rigidity with which religious regulations are enforced varies by time and place.
He said: ‘China’s political climate has been particularly sensitive in the months leading up to the recent Party Congress. Party-state officials have been extremely skittish about anything that might potentially disrupt social stability’.
‘My guess is that this family has fallen victim to this climate of heightened political vigilance; law enforcement officers were willing to take drastic action against potential threats to stability than they would normally have done.’
Emeritus Professor of Asian Studies at Coventry University, Alan Hunter points out to the Mailonline the overall policy of the government has been to turn a blind eye to these independent groups, as long as they are not too out-going.
Baptized Chinese Catholics receive blessing during an Easter Mass in Shanghai (file photo)
He said, ‘It is another example that China these days does have a measure of tolerance: but tolerance has limits, and people who push limits can expect to be arrested and imprisoned.’
‘The case of Pastor Xu and her family therefore seems quite typical: perhaps to the Pastor, preaching the Gospel in public is a fundamental human right as well as Christian duty.’
Published author Ian Johnson, who focuses on society and religion told the Mailonline that enforcement is especially strict now, with the party congress having just ended.
He said: ‘Despite the growing presence of religion in China over the past years, evangelizing in public spaces is still illegal. This type of behavior is especially risky and probably not something one should undertake with a child in tow’.
A Catholic Chinese worshipper receives holy communion at Beijing’s Cathedral (file photo)
He explained he assumes that the detention is temporary. But, if the person has repeatedly be detained on the same charge, it’s possible she will face jail time.
Their detention comes just two weeks after China toughened up its restrictions on religious activities.
The Chinese government has recently been stepping up its crackdown on churches ahead of the implementation of the revised edition of its Regulations on Religious Affairs in February 2018, according to a previous report.