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| Authorities destroy a church in Linfen, Shanxi, in January 2018. (Photo: ChinaAid) |
ChinaAid
Correction: This story was updated to correct information that incorrectly stated eight Beijing churches were demolished. Instead, they were shut down.
(Beijing—April 21, 2019) Chinese authorities demolished an Inner Mongolia church on Easter weekend and dragged away Christian protesters. A week earlier, churches in Beijing were prohibited from holding services.
On April 20, several hundred police officers and government staff members dispatched to a three-story church in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, and surrounded it. Many Christian protesters tried to prevent the demolition they then carried out, but they were cast out of the church, and authorities formed two human walls. Some of them were taken away. Several hundred Christians also arrived on the scene to sing hymns.
A banner, which read, “Resist evil religion; follow the Chinese Communist Party” was hung from the church’s wall.
Some Christians tried to negotiate with one of the officials, but the government agents persisted in the demolition and seized many Christians.
Similarly, on April 14, Beijing officials banned “seven to eight churches from hosting worship services,” according to one Christian, and closed other small churches that are not registered with the government.
Christians were also warned not to participate in Easter celebrations.
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