(China, Wenzhou, Zhejiang — June 28, 2025) Prominent pastor Huang Yizi was once again criminally detained by the Pingyang County Public Security Bureau of Wenzhou on the morning of June 27, 2025, on the charge of “on suspicion of illegal business operations.” Pastor Huang’s wife, Mrs. Lin Aili, received a phone call that day from someone claiming to be a personnel working at the Pingyang Public Security Bureau, informing her that Pastor Huang had been detained and a detention notice had been mailed and was on its way to her right now.
That afternoon, Mrs. Lin Aili went to the Pingyang County Detention Center to deliver clothing and deposit money for her husband. It is understood that Pastor Huang’s lawyer has also been granted permission to meet with him. Alongside Pastor Huang Yizi, four other Christians from Ningbo, Taizhou, and Quzhou were also criminally detained. The pastor’s wife, Ms. Lin Aili, earnestly appeals to all sectors to continue praying for Pastor Huang Yizi and the other arrested Christians, asking for their safety and to be strengthened.
Background: Jailed for Opposing the Removal of Crosses
Pastor Huang Yizi was born in 1974 and is a fourth-generation Christian. He began participating in ministry activities such as home visits to the church members with pastors at the age of 14 and is a highly respected pastor in the Wenzhou region of Zhejiang, China. He had gained widespread attention as one of the first pastors to speak out against the Wenzhou government’s massive campaign to forcibly remove church crosses in 2014.
At that time, crosses had already been removed from hundreds of churches across Zhejiang Province. In Pingyang County, authorities dispatched hundreds of police officers to forcibly remove the cross from the Salvation Church, resulting in injuries to more than sixty Christians who attempted to stop the demolition.
Pastor Huang Yizi joined local people in publicly demanding an explanation from the Pingyang County government regarding the police’s assault on Christians. He was subsequently sentenced to one year in prison for “gathering a crowd to disturb public order.” Zhang Kai, the lawyer who represented Pastor Huang and other church-related cases, was also placed under residential surveillance for six months.
Continued Surveillance After Release; Family Suspects the Detention This time Is an Excuse
After his release, Pastor Huang Yizi stated that his year in prison made him realize the blessing of “being persecuted for righteousness’ sake” and gave him time to meditate on God’s Word. He holds significant influence among the Christian community in Wenzhou and is known for his profound preaching style.
Although Pastor Huang has remained under long-term surveillance since his release, the recent criminal detention by Pingyang Public Security on the charge of “on suspicion of illegal business operations” is widely believed by his family and local Christians to be related to his uncompromising stance on government religious policies. They view the charge of “illegal business operations” as merely an excuse for the authorities to conduct religious suppression.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng of ChinaAid)
