China's Crackdown on Religious Freedom: Arrest of Church Leaders Sparks International Concern

Chinese officials have arrested 18 leaders of the underground Zion Church, marking a significant escalation in the crackdown on religious freedom in China. Almost 30 pastors and staffers have been detained since mid-October, with the Zion Church being one of the largest remaining underground churches in the country.

According to Breitbart News, the church, founded in 2007 by Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, operates independently from the Communist Party, which has intensified its efforts to control organized religion through a policy known as Sinicization.

This policy mandates that religious institutions align their teachings with Communist Party doctrine. Millions of Chinese Christians continue to defy the system by worshiping in house churches. The Zion Church notably grew during the pandemic by offering online services and defying lockdowns imposed by Xi Jinping's regime.

The recent crackdown has been described as the most significant against house churches in years. Five detainees were released in October, while another four were released on bail in early November, according to Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace.

The 18 arrested were charged with illegally using information networks, a move denounced by Christian NGO ChinaAid as politically motivated. ChinaAid stated that these pastors are being treated as criminals for faithfully leading a large, unregistered church that refuses to submit to CCP control.

Dr. Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, characterized the arrests as a chilling milestone in the CCP's war on Christianity. Over 500 church leaders from 45 nations signed an online petition calling for the release of the imprisoned members, emphasizing that religious freedom strengthens nations rather than threatens them.

The U.S. Senate responded by passing a bipartisan resolution condemning the arrests. Senators from both parties stressed the importance of religious freedom, with Senator Chris Coons stating that everyone deserves the right to practice their religion without fear.

Senator Ted Cruz echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the crackdown reflects a broader pattern of suppression against independent religious authorities. Other senators joined in condemning the actions of the Chinese government, framing faith as a fundamental right rather than a crime.