HONG KONG (UCAN): Government officials in eastern China have raided and shut down close to 100 protestant churches as part of an escalating crackdown on Christians.
Officials in four cities in Anhui province have closed down 99 churches and prayer venues this year, exploiting a range of pretexts including poverty eradication and prevention of Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic, reported Bitter Winter, a magazine that covers human rights and liberty in China.
At least 43 churches were closed in Suzhou, 24 in Huaibei, 20 in Fuyang, and 16 in Xuancheng, the magazine said.
Officials cited a host of violations such as “disobeying the government” and “being too close to a school.” Not having a license or the building being dilapidated were among other alleged violations.
Some were also accused of organising illegal gatherings” posing the risk of spreading infectious diseases like Covid-19.
Local Christians said most of the shut down churches were registered with the local authority. They also had the certificate of registration.
Officials dismissed the certificate shown by protesting Christians, saying the documents were not valid anymore.
“The state can annul the certificate because it had issued it,” one official declared.
Last year, officials shut down some 70 Protestant churches and prayer venues in Lianyungang and Suqian in Jiangsu province.
Officials also decided to demolish or repurpose the venues to prevent congregations from resuming gatherings in the two cities.
