Xinyicun Church Faces Increasing Persecution in Huainan
(Huainan, Anhui Province, China – March 10, 2025) According to reports, the Xinyicun Church in Panji District, Huainan City, Anhui Province, which has recently suffered severe persecution, continues to face pressure. Following the criminal detention of Pastor Zhao Hongliang and three other Christians, five other Christians being released on bail pending trial, and the church being vandalized and forcibly taken over by local community management authorities and religious affairs bureau, police are still continuously summoning other church members. On the morning of March 7, 2025, church member Xu Enhui was taken away by local police, and multiple other believers were summoned or threatened. Xu Enhui was released and returned home on March 8. During her interrogation at the police station, she was placed in shackles and handcuffs. After returning home, she was still required to go to the police station next Monday to provide the names of church group leaders, reportedly because provincial officials would be coming to handle the case.
Conflict Between Biblical Beliefs and Government Requirements
According to sources, Xinyicun Church was originally registered within the Three-Self Patriotic Movement system, but the church refused many requirements that did not conform to biblical truth, thus leading to suppression. Since February 2025, nine Christians, including the pastor, have been arrested, with four being criminally detained and five released on bail pending trial.
On February 26, 2025, the Panji district religious affairs bureau and Tanji community management office jointly issued an announcement reporting the case of Zhao Hongliang and four other Christians being arrested. The announcement also stated that the Panji district religious affairs bureau, Tanji community management office, and the district’s Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches (TSPM) and Christian Council (CCC) had appointed dedicated personnel to form a joint working group that would enter the church to carry out work. It also warned all Christians in Xinji district to abide by regulations that violate the constitution and infringe on freedom of belief, or face severe punishment.
Religious Persecution in Anhui: A Wider Pattern of Crackdowns on House Churches
Xu Enhui from the church in Panji district has now returned home. During her interrogation, she was placed in shackles and handcuffs, and after her release, she was still required to go in next Monday to provide the names of church group leaders, as provincial officials would reportedly be coming to handle the matter.
In recent years, Anhui Province has experienced multiple church cases and is a severely affected area of persecution. This announcement from Huainan City government is just the tip of the iceberg regarding local governments’ strict control over Christian house churches and religious persecution of Chinese citizens across China. Arrests of house church preachers and believers have never stopped throughout the country.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng for ChinaAid)
