Page one and two of the “Written Decision of Administrative Penalty on Ji Chungang” by Dali Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs (Photo: ChinaAid source)
(Dali, Yunnan Province, China) Yunnan Province Dali Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs decided to fine Ji Chungang 150,000 yuan (~20,848 USD) because he organized a religious training event. Ji Chungang, 41 years old, is from Zhumadian City, Henan province, but resides in Kunming City, Yunnan province.
The Written Decision of Administrative Penalty issued by Dali Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs states that Ji Chungang organized a religious training event at Yishanhai Inn, Yanghe Village Committee, Dali Town, Dali City on June 28, 2022, without authorization. The primary evidence includes 19 copies of transcript of the query made on site, two photos of the site, the name list of people attending the event, and documents collected on site.
The litigant can submit the application for administrative reconsideration to Dali People’s Government within 60 days starting the day of receiving the written decision if disagreeing with the penalty decision. Alternatively, the litigant can file a lawsuit to Dali Municipal People’s Court within 6 months in accordance with laws, but the written decision will not be held off from implementation. If the litigant does not apply for administrative reconsideration or file a lawsuit before each deadline or not fulfill his obligation, the organ will ask People’s Court to enforce it forcibly or enforce it coercively in accordance with relevant regulations.
In addition to arrest, threat, and conviction, severe financial penalties are one of the heaviest burdens used by the Chinese government to persecute religious minorities.
On July 29, 2021, Xiamen City Siming District Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs issued an administrative penalty notice to Minister Yang Xibo of Xiamen Xunsiding Church and his wife Wang Xiaofei, fining them 200,000 yuan on a charge of organizing illegal gatherings.
On November 16, 2021, Chang Yuchun and Li Chenhui, a Christian couple who live in Xi’an City, Shaanxi province, were sentenced to seven years and fined 250,000 yuan by Shaanxi Province Xi’an Municipal Intermediate People’s Court because they printed Christianity books.
On December 30, 2021, the Christian school located in Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province was raided, and Huang Yuanda who was in charge of the school was given a fine of 100,000 yuan.
In July 2021, a house church, “Wangjia Hunli” located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province and having 1,500 congregants once, received the administrative enforcement claims by Zhuhai City Xiangzhou District Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, which required that they should make a payment of RMB 36,000,000 including confiscation, fine and overdue fees. Otherwise, the court would enforce it.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Contributing Reporter
(Note: Previous articles estimate USD equivalent from data at the time)
