Chinese authorities have launched a renewed crackdown on unsanctioned religious activities, detaining members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Sichuan province. Human Rights Watch reported that this week, six individuals affiliated with the underground Protestant congregation were arrested. The church publicly announced the arrests on social media, highlighting a worrying trend of increasing persecution against citizens seeking to practice their faith freely.
Yalkun Uluyol, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, commented on the situation, saying, “The Chinese government has ushered in the new year with new arrests of underground Protestant church members.” He called for the immediate release of those imprisoned and urged the government to allow religious practices without fear of retribution.
This crackdown follows previous arrests of around 100 members from another unofficial house church just weeks ago. The Early Rain Covenant Church has a history of being targeted, with earlier raids resulting in the detention of over 100 congregants in December 2018. Its founding pastor, Wang Yi, remains incarcerated, facing charges such as “inciting subversion of state power.” This ongoing repression underscores a broader campaign by the Chinese Communist Party against religious groups, which is officially atheistic and discourages any form of religious expression that doesn’t align with its ideological framework.
Further demonstrating this escalating conflict, police targeted Li Yingqiang, the church leader, raiding his home and detaining him along with other key members. Two additional congregants were summoned for questioning, emphasizing the oppressive atmosphere surrounding faith communities in China.
In recent months, another underground church, Zion Church, has faced similar repression, with nearly 30 of its pastors and staff detained during a nationwide operation in October. The founder, Mingri “Ezra” Jin, remains in custody.
Under President Xi Jinping’s regime, religious restrictions have intensified, particularly against Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and Muslims. His administration has advocated for the sinicization of religion, reinforcing the notion that loyalty must lie with the Communist Party above all. Unsanctioned churches face demolitions, bans on online religious content, and confiscation of unauthorized Bibles. Even those that comply with government oversight—including legal entities like the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement”—must operate under stringent conditions, often requiring compromising their core beliefs. Reports have shown these churches being forced to replace Christian symbols and messages with those reflective of government ideology, including the removal of crosses and substitution of the Ten Commandments with quotes from Xi Jinping.
As Uluyol remarked, “Xi Jinping’s government has tightened ideological control and intensified its intolerance of loyalties beyond the Chinese Communist Party.” Outside voices are increasingly calling for pressure on the Chinese government to respect religious freedoms and release detained individuals. These arrests are not just attacks on personal beliefs; they represent a larger pattern of oppression against a fundamental human right—the right to practice one’s faith without fear.
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