(Guiyang, Guizhou Province — September 3, 2025) On September 1, 2025, Elder Yao Yong of Zion Church’s Meimen congregation in Guiyang filed a lawsuit against the Nanming Branch of the Guiyang Public Security Bureau over an administrative penalty. The Baiyun District People’s Court of Guiyang City has formally accepted and filed the case. Yao Yong accuses the Nanming Branch of the public security bureau of procedural violations, exceeding authority, abuse of power, and imposing a clearly improper penalty, among other illegal acts, during his administrative detention.
The lawsuit dates back to June of this year. In the first week of June 2025, branches of Zion Church in several cities across China were raided, and many church members were summoned. On June 2, the Nanming Branch of the Guiyang Public Security Bureau raided a Sunday worship service of the Guiyang Meimen Church and took all those present at the scene to the police station. Elder Yao Yong and another brother, Mao Yue, were each penalized with 15 days of administrative detention.
According to the Notice of Administrative Penalty Decision issued by the Nanming Branch, Yao Yong was punished for carrying out activities in the name of the “banned Beijing Zion Church.” The public security organ claimed that Yao Yong had participated in online courses and worship organized by Beijing Zion Church and had contributed funds to support its mission, thereby identifying him as working for the “Beijing Zion Church.”
To which, Yao emphasized that he has been a Christian since 1995 and founded “Meimen Church” in 2016. In 2021, Meimen Church merged with Beijing Zion Church and was renamed “Meimen Congregation of Beijing Zion Church.” He stated that this entire process involved no illegal activities.
Yao Yong believes that the Nanming Branch’s administrative penalty not only lacked primary evidence and misapplied the law but also violated legal procedures by failing to inform him of his right to make a statement or defense. Citing Articles 49 and 70 of the Administrative Litigation Law of the People’s Republic of China, he requests the court to revoke the Nanming Branch’s Administrative Penalty Decision and order the defendant to bear all litigation costs. The defendant in the case is Chen Xiaolu, Chief of the Nanming Branch of the Guiyang Public Security Bureau.
The developments of the case are expected to draw widespread attention.
Reported by Special Correspondent Ning Meng for ChinaAid
Attached are the Notice of Case Acceptance by the Baiyun District People’s Court of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, and the Notice of Administrative Litigation.
