cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/44046616
The authorities in China have detained the pastor of one of the country’s most prominent underground churches, along with dozens of other people affiliated with his church, according to the pastor’s family and members of the church, prompting worries about a renewed crackdown on religion.
The pastor, Jin Mingri, who also goes by the name Ezra, founded Beijing Zion Church in 2007. It grew into one of the country’s largest unofficial congregations, with several satellite campuses and over 1,000 people attending its weekend services.
Mr. Jin, 56, was detained on Friday at his home in the city of Beihai in Guangxi Province, according to his daughter, Grace Jin, who lives in the United States. Around the same time, nearly 30 other Zion Church pastors or workers were taken into custody or went missing around the country, including in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities, she said.
[…]
In recent months, […] surveillance on Mr. Jin seemed to have ramped up, Ms. Jin [who is Mr. Jin daughter who lives in the US] said. In September, the government issued new regulations limiting religious activity online to officially registered channels.
Mr. Jin had also suggested to the state security officers monitoring him that he might retire from Zion so that he could join his family, Ms. Jin said. But she said the officers refused to let him leave.
“After this kind of posturing, it seemed like something big was going to happen again,” Ms. Jin said. “We just didn’t know when or to what extent. But I also feel like my dad is always the optimist.” She added, “He is sort of like, ‘Well I can’t live in fear every day, so I’m just going to continue on with what I need to do.’”
[…]
Corey Jackson, the founder of Luke Alliance, a U.S.-based group that advocates for persecuted Christians in China, said that the detentions were “without a doubt” the biggest crackdown on Christianity in China since 2018.
[…]
Small protestant church which gained popularity during the covid lockdowns? Sounds like a cult to me, whats next? Reuters reporting the membership have the bestest organs and the ceeceepee is taking their kidneys? (Ala Falon Gong, who coincidentally have a bunch of racist, anti gay, and anti communist teachings. Who’s rag the epoch times openly supports Trump and US imperialism)
There are 10s of millions of muslims, christians etc in the PRC, one private underground church group bring restricted is not the CPC cracking down on religion as msm would have you believe
Be skeptical, reuters founding is tied back to Thomas Reuters, who in the 1850s had a monopoly over mines, tobacco and railroads in Iran, their hearts are not in the right place
There are 10s of millions of muslims, christians etc in the PRC, one private underground church group bring restricted is not the CPC cracking down on religion as msm would have you believe
Be skeptical, reuters founding is tied back to Thomas Reuters, who in the 1850s had a monopoly over mines, tobacco and railroads in Iran, their hearts are not in the right place
Yes, there are indeed, among others, muslims like Uyghurs in Xinjiang. China’s genocide there is well known.
You should always being skeptical when consuming media, but thank you for the reminder.The founder’s activities in 1850 have, of course, nothing to do with the current agency stance, though. And a certain “Thomas Reuters” has nothing to do with it. The agency’s founder was Paul Reuter. The company has been called Thomson Reuters after Canadian media company Thomson acquired Reuters.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from wherever you receive your information. Your statement is out of touch by any means.
It’s really sad when non-believers don’t value other’s freedom to believe what they want. It seems hypocritical. Citing Muslims as an example of Chinese religious freedom is either dishonest or ignorant.