FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(July 17, 2026 – MIDLAND, Texas) — ChinaAid expressed deep concern Thursday over the continuing crackdown on multiple house churches in Yueyang, a city in Hunan Province in south-central China, after coordinated police raids on July 11.
Although most Christians detained in the July 11 raids have since been released, six church leaders and workers remain in custody. ChinaAid News previously reported that the coordinated operation targeted several house churches in Yueyang amid broader government pressure on unregistered Christian congregations.
According to information obtained by ChinaAid, most believers detained during the raids were released within 24 hours, while a smaller number were released within 48 hours. Nearly all were subjected to lengthy interrogations, fingerprinting, blood collection for DNA sampling, voice and video recordings, written statements, and the creation of personal surveillance files.
During one mandatory recording session, a Christian woman refused to read a police-prepared statement containing banking information because she feared it could facilitate fraud. Officers ultimately allowed her to identify herself only by name and telephone number.
Another Christian woman, citing poor eyesight, declined to read the prepared script and instead requested permission to offer a prayer before the recording. Police allowed her to conclude by praying a blessing.
Pastor Huang Lei’s wife, Wang Ling, said authorities confiscated every Bible and Christian book from their home during the search. Teacher Yuan Siying also faces mounting pressure because her husband works in government and their daughter teaches at a university. The family fears the arrests could jeopardize both of their careers.
Her husband was reportedly required to sign a written guarantee promising to keep his wife at home and prevent her from participating in church activities.
“The July 11 crackdown in Yueyang demonstrates that under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party continues its systematic campaign to eradicate independent house churches,” said ChinaAid Founder and President Rev. Dr. Bob Fu.
Six Christians remain in custody
As of Thursday, the following six believers remained detained:
1. Pastor Huang Lei
2. Elder Yang Jianjun
3. Preacher Hu Hongtao
4. Pastor Luo Kaimin
5. Sister Yang Chun
6. Brother Fu (no relation to Rev. Bob Fu)
Multiple believers released from custody independently reported that interrogating officers repeatedly asserted that Christians who refuse to join the state-controlled Three-Self Church belong to a “cult.”
Believers rejected that characterization, noting that Three-Self churches restrict children’s participation in church life, which they said conflicts with Jesus’ teaching welcoming children.
Local Christians said the campaign reminded them of the Cultural Revolution, arguing that authorities are again attempting to bring independent churches under state control through intimidation, criminalization, and ideological pressure.
Bob Fu said police accusations against independent Christians have no basis in Chinese law, violate China’s constitutional protections for religious belief, and conflict with internationally recognized human rights standards.
He also cited the confiscation of Bibles, compulsory biometric data collection, and reported efforts to pressure family members into monitoring one another as evidence of increasingly intrusive religious persecution.
ChinaAid called on the U.S. government, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and democratic governments worldwide to urge Chinese authorities to immediately release the six detained Christians, end the criminalization of peaceful religious practice, and uphold protections for religious freedom.
ChinaAid will continue monitoring the case and provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
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Midland, Texas, USA