Overview
- At least six members of the Early Rain Covenant Church were detained on January 6, including current leader Li Yingqiang after a police raid on his home.
- Those held or summoned include Dai Zhichao, Ye Fenghua, Yan Hong and Zeng Qingtao, with church adherents Shu Qiong and Wu Wuqing called in by police and Wu later released with a warning.
- Authorities have not disclosed the legal basis for the detentions, and the Chengdu public security bureau did not respond to requests for comment.
- Early Rain said police also pressured the owner of its academy’s teaching site to clear out all items by Friday after teachers and students evacuated.
- Human Rights Watch urged the immediate release of detainees and access to lawyers, noting recent large-scale actions against other house churches, including December detentions linked to Wenzhou’s Yayang Church and October arrests tied to Zion Church.