A Protestant house church in China has voiced concern over the arrest of its pastors and members, accusing the government of infringing on their religious freedom.
In a statement dated June 18, the Light of Zion Church in Xi’an urged “Christians at home and abroad, along with people from all sectors of society, to continue paying attention” to China’s human rights violations.
According to the church, Pastor Tang Bingyi, church worker Du Juan, and several others have been taken into custody by authorities in Xi’an.
Since May 16, Pastor Gao Quanfu, a senior leader of the church, along with a number of other pastors and elders, has also been detained by police.
The church, which has been active for nearly four decades, stated that from May 2025, multiple members have been “summoned and questioned” by local officials.
The church further claimed that even individuals who had not taken part in church activities for six to seven years were summoned by officials of the Chinese Communist Party under President Xi Jinping.
Authorities have accused the church of “using superstition to obstruct the enforcement of law,” a criminal offense in China punishable by three to seven years in prison.
Church members were reportedly pressured repeatedly to sign “pledge letters” promising not to attend services at Light of Zion Church anymore.
They were also coerced into making allegations against pastors.
The church said that the government’s “forced interference” in religious matters and its administrative actions are disrupting the church’s operations and endangering the mental and physical health of its members.
