Christians Face Large Fines and Increase in Fraud Accusations
A Chinese Christian man has been fined more than US$ 20,000 for organizing a religious training event.
Ji Chungang (41) was penalized for hosting an unauthorized religious training event on June 28th in Dali town, part of Dali city in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province.
He was ordered to pay approximately $27,000 after the authorities had reviewed the evidence of the gathering including photos, confiscated documents from the hall where the event was held, and a list of attendees.
“Heavy penalties are one of the ways in which the authorities hinder Christian leaders and their activities which are then also used as a warning to others,” an Open Doors field researcher said. “We recently heard of someone else who ran a Christian training and then was fined by the authorities.”
In December a court upheld a verdict against a Christian online bookseller in which he was sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine of approximately $42000.
Meanwhile the number of Chinese Christians accused of “fraud” has been increasing this year, the researcher said. In August, a pastor of a house church was detained for purchasing Christian literature online and is facing charges of fraud.
Chen Lijun has been held at the Lu’an County Detention Center in western Anhui province since August 13th while more than 100 members of his church also face persecution. Lijun also received a fine of approximately $18000 because of his faith, said his wife.
Party Congress
China is 17th in the 2022 Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. And the outcomes of last month’s 20th Congress of China’s Communist Party does not bode well for the future of Christians and other minority groups in the country, said Thomas Muller, persecution analyst with Open Doors’ World Watch Research.
“The Party Congress showed that authorities want to increase their push for control and, judging from experience, Christians are more likely to be seen as a threat to security than an asset,” said Muller.
As for the Christians themselves, their response varies depending on the location and the church leaders, said Open Doors’ field partner Juliana whose real name is being withheld because of security reasons. “Some pastors are afraid of the potential of persecution that is coming, while others encourage their congregation to focus on the sovereignty of God and not to worry on the outcome of the event,” she said.
Please Pray
- Pray that, despite intense surveillance, faith will flourish in China and more people will discover God’s love
- Pray for the authorities in China to recognize the importance of religious freedom, and allow the church to gather and worship without restrictions.
