(Huainan City, Anhui – August 26, 2025) Amid an increasingly stringent regulatory environment on religious activities in China, four members of a registered Christian church in Huainan, Anhui Province, were recently charged with the crime of “intentional destruction of property.” The case is scheduled to be heard in the local court on August 29. 

Defendants Accused of Removing Surveillance Cameras

According to information from the Christian Kingdom Prayer Network platform, the four defendants are Zhao Hongliang, Shang Lei, Xu Yongshui, and Xu Kehong. They are accused of dismantling surveillance equipment installed at the entrance of Covenant Church. The church is located in Panji District of Huainan, and has long voiced discontent over the local government’s installation of surveillance cameras in religious venues, the forced removal of crosses, and the government’s policy to prohibit minors from entering religious venues. 

Political Pressure Despite Official Recognition

Although Covenant Church is part of China’s state-sanctioned “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” system, observers of the outside world believe it still faces strict oversight and political pressure from local authorities in its operations. In February of this year, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Panji District, along with the local Christian association, jointly issued a notice revoking the religious credentials of Pastor Zhao Hongliang, the leader of the Church. The notice stated that some church members had already been criminally detained for alleged violations of the law. 

Government Control Over Church Operations

At the same time, authorities announced the formation of a “joint working group” formed by the government and religious associations to fully take over the church’s affairs until the “implementation of management is standardized”. According to reports, the church’s surveillance system is now fully operational, with all activities monitored in real-time and uploaded to government platforms. 

Prosecutors Frame Case as Property Damage

Analysts note that while prosecutors have framed the case as one of property damage, it actually reflects deeper levels of restrictions on religious freedom by the Chinese authorities. For years, Beijing has continued to tighten control over religious practices, including those of house churches. It has increasingly relied on non-religious charges such as “illegal business operations,” “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” or “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order” to criminally prosecute Christians, thereby avoiding direct accusations of religious persecution by the outside world. 

Official Silence and International Attention

Chinese authorities have not publicly commented on the case. The government has consistently maintained that such measures are aimed at preserving social stability and ensuring the “rule of law in managing religious affairs.” 

The outcome of this trial will be closely monitored by domestic and international organizations advocating for religious freedom 

China Aid Association