Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The China Aid Association is reporting a series of recent arrests and detentions targeting house churches across China. The sudden increase of incidents involving both the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) and the Public Security Bureau (PSB) is indicative of a crackdown.

Whether or not the government is beginning a comprehensive effort to clear out house churches, local authorities of the government's enforcement apparatus are bearing down on Christians. In Xinjiang Province, officials have posted signs asking citizens to report any "evil cult activity," in this case meaning house churches. Two Christians in Xinjiang have been charged with the serious crime of being "separatists."

In May, house church gatherings have been broken up and Christians have been arrested across the country. Some of the incidents include:

• A Bible school in Hebei Province was raided on May 13. Officials shut down the school and forced students from various provinces to return home. Property was confiscated and a pastor, teacher, and interpreter were all arrested, interrogated, and later released.
   
• On May 15, officials from the PSB broke up a prayer service in Hebei Province where two dozen Christians had gathered to pray for the victims of the earthquake and for the Olympics. Officials declared the prayer meeting an “illegal gathering”. In addition, officials have also turned away and even arrested house church members who volunteered to help victims of the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province.
   

IRD Director of Religious Liberty Programs Faith J.H. McDonnell commented,

"Chinese Christians need our prayers in the face of both mounting persecution and the devastating death toll from the recent earthquake. Due to the repressive one-child policy, many parents lost the only child they had and will be struggling with grief and despair.

"In the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, we've witnessed further tightening of unfair restrictions on Christian practice in China. The increased spotlight has unfortunately not led to greater freedoms for the Chinese people.

"Once again, in the tragic death of over 65,000 people in the recent earthquake, the Chinese government demonstrates that it prizes control over doing what is best for its own people. Rather than accept the aid of Chinese Christians who want to ease the suffering of the people of Sichuan Province, the Chinese government chooses to persecute them."

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