(Yinchuan, Ningxia Province – September 3, 2024) It was reported that several Christians in Jinfeng District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia were disrupted by local public security while gathering. Four Christians were charged with “disturbing social order,” with two administratively detained for 7 days and the other two for 10 days. After his administrative detention expired, Ma Yan was again criminally detained by Jinfeng District Public Security Bureau on suspicion of organizing illegal gathering.
On August 9, 2024, around 4 PM, less than 10 Christians, including Ma Yan, were gathering in a hotel in Jinfeng District, Yinchuan City, when they were raided by police officers from Jinfeng District Public Security Bureau. Two Christians were administratively detained for 7 days for disturbing social order, while Ma Yan and another man were administratively detained for 10 days for the same reason.
The administrative penalty decision issued by Yinchuan City Public Security Bureau Jinfeng District Branch on August 10 stated: “It has been determined that on August 9, 2024, at around 3 PM, our bureau’s police officers discovered that people were gathering in Room 1712 of Xinrui Hotel, Building C, Jinfeng Wanda Plaza, Zhengyuan Street, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan City. Our police officers went to the hotel and found Ma Yan. “They were conducting illegal Christian gatherings in the name of religion in a non-religious venue, disrupting normal social order, which was determined to be an illegal religious activity by the Jinfeng District Religious Affairs Bureau.”
The above facts are supported by evidence including statements and defenses from the offender Ma Yan, witness testimonies, inspection records, identification records, and extraction records.
In conclusion, Ma Yan’s illegal act of disturbing public order is established. According to Article 23, Paragraph 1, Item (2) of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People’s Republic of China, it is now decided to impose administrative detention of ten days on Ma Yan. The execution method and period are to be carried out at Yinchuan Detention Center, with the execution period from August 10, 2024, to August 20, 2024.
On August 20, 2024, when the administrative detention period ended, Ma Yan received a notice of release from administrative detention from Jinfeng Public Security Bureau. However, on the same day, Ma Yan also received a “criminal detention notice” issued by Jinfeng Public Security Bureau, charging him with “suspicion of organizing illegal gatherings.” As a result, Ma Yan was immediately detained at Yinchuan Detention Center right after being released from the prior detention period.
This is the second case in recent years in Ningxia where Christians have been charged on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings.” The other case occurred on December 5, 2021, at Panshi Church in Huinong District, Shizuishan, Ningxia. Panshi Church was raided by local national security, police station, and religious affairs bureau officials during Sunday worship in a remote bungalow at the water plant in Huinong District. The next day, the police imposed a 15-day administrative detention on Pastor Geng Zejun for “disturbing social order.” Pastor Geng Zejun’s wife Hao Ying and 5 other believers were administratively detained for 10 days and then released on bail pending trial. Two weeks after completing his administrative detention, Pastor Geng Zejun was summoned again on January 4, 2022, and criminally detained by the police on suspicion of “organizing and funding illegal gatherings.” On January 25, 2022, Pastor Geng was formally arrested on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings.” On July 13, 2022, the Huinong District People’s Court conducted a video trial of Pastor Geng Zejun on suspicion of “organizing illegal gatherings,” with Pastor Geng receiving the trial in the detention center. On August 11, 2022, the first-instance verdict was announced: Pastor Geng Zejun was sentenced to one year and three months in prison. On August 20, Pastor Geng filed an appeal, and on November 7, he received the verdict: the appeal was rejected, and the original judgment was upheld.
On August 24, 2024, Ma Yan’s family issued a prayer request letter disclosing the news of Ma Yan and others being detained. The prayer request stated that the Constitution stipulates that citizens have freedom of religious belief, and Christian gatherings are not illegal gatherings, let alone disturbing social order. They asked fellow Christians to pray urgently for the church and for imprisoned Ma Yan.