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3h ago

China Detains House-Church Leaders in Nationwide Sweep as Zion Pastor Faces Online-Activity Charge

Authorities say the arrests enforce new curbs on online religious activity imposed this year.

A man looks on at a Catholic church in Zhuozhou, China's northern Hebei province on April 22, 2025. In 1951, newly communist China severed ties with the Holy See, forcing Catholics to choose between membership in the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or non-sanctioned churches loyal to the pope. But under Pope Francis, China and the Vatican signed a 2018 agreement allowing both Beijing and the Holy See a say in appointing bishops in an attempt to close the schism in China's 12-million-strong Catholic community. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP) / To go with AFP story Vatican-religion-pope-China,FOCUS by Mary Yang and Isabel Kua (Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Nearly 30 pastors and members linked to unregistered churches were detained over the weekend, with about 20 still in custody after several releases.
  • Zion Church founder Jin Mingri is being held on suspicion of “illegal use of information networks,” a charge that could carry a sentence of up to seven years, according to a detention notice cited by church representatives.
  • Family members and advocates say lawyers have been blocked from meeting several detainees, and Jin’s daughter reports concerns about his access to diabetes medication.
  • Church sources report more than 150 worshippers have been questioned in recent months as authorities intensify scrutiny of unregistered congregations.
  • Beijing’s campaign follows newly tightened rules that bar unauthorized online preaching, livestreamed sermons, and AI-generated religious content, drawing a U.S. call from Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the detainees’ immediate release.