Persecuzione religiosa in Cina: 18 persone arrestate e costrette a pagare una multa

Diciotto membri di una chiesa domestica (1) nella provincia di Henan, in Cina, sono stati arrestati dalla polizia locale la scorsa settimana quando si erano appena riuniti per un incontro. Sedici di loro sono ancora sotto custodia. E’ stata la prima volta che i membri della chiesa domestica nel villaggio sono stati arrestati collettivamente.

L’Associazione “China Aid Association” (CAA) ha chiesto alle autorità cinesi l’immediato rilascio di questi fedeli. “China Aid Association” ha anche riportato che i fedeli, dopo essere stati arrestati, sono stati portati nella stazione della polizia locale dove sono stati obbligati a pagare una multa di 1.000 yuan (circa 156,56 dollari).

Segue l’articolo in inglese

Eighteen House Church members from Henan Province in Central China were detained by local police last week when they gathered for a meeting. Sixteen of them remain in detention.
It was the first time that members of the House Church in the village had been arrested collectively. The China Aid Association (CAA) called on Chinese authorities to immediately release these detained Christians.
The CAA reported that when the Huafu Church members in Taizi Village, Xinye County, Henan Province, gathered on April 30, local police conducted a raid. Eighteen people were brought to the local police station where they were forced to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan (approximately $146.56). The arrests occurred over a week ago.

One church member, identified as Li Le, said that the authorities had not given any reason for the detentions nor had they processed the detentions yet.

Li said the local police have released only two elder members who were in poor health. Several family members of the detained Christians asked Li to lead them to the police station so they could ask for the release of their family members.

A Voice of America reporter called the Xinye police but the police hung up immediately when they realized the call was from a reporter. The cell phone of the police leader was also turned off. A staff person at the Xinye Detention Center simply said he did not have a clear understanding of the matter.

Li reported that they are often harassed by the police and anti-riot forces when they meet together. In the past they had been arrested individually. This was the first time the church members had been arrested collectively.

Zhang Mingxuan, chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance, said that the Chinese authorities had not loosened their suppression of House Church members after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics.

“The education level of police in many remote areas is poor. They have been told Christians are a radical force and lawless. They don’t understand us, so they continue to suppress us. It happens frequently in Henan and Sichuan Provinces and in other places as well.” Zhang said.

CAA published a statement asking members to contact Xinye police to ask for the immediate release of the 16 Christians.

posted on DossierTibet, May 9, 2009

(1)Le Chiese domestiche (in inglese House Churches) sono delle comunità cristiane che, anche a causa della repressione, si riuniscono nelle case per celebrare i riti religiosi e incontrarsi. Essi si rifanno anche all’abitudine dei primi cristiani a riunirsi nelle loro abitazioni.