Over 100 Christians, including children, were arrested during a major house church raid on Sunday in Foshan city in China’s Guangdong Province. Close to 200 police officers stormed in during the service, eyewitnesses said, believed to be part of a large-scale crackdown on Christians in the country.
“We don’t know exactly why they raided our church,” a local believer told watchdog group International Christian Concern, which has been keeping track of the rising tide of persecution in China. “The government does not want us to get together and worship as a church.”
Worshipers said that the church was raided without any warning, and that police only left behind a notice stating that people were detained for an “illegal gathering.” More than 30 parishioners reportedly still remain in custody.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It is unbelievable that local authorities arrested over 100 church members, including children, in Foshan city. Even though most people have been released, the experience has been traumatizing,” said ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Sooyoung Kim.
(Read the rest of the story here…)