The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to intensify its crackdown on unregistered religious groups. In early September, Zhou Zixun, the founder and head pastor of the Jiaquan Church, was taken away by the police. On October 23, the authorities approved his arrest on charges of “fraud,” and he is currently being held at the Shijingshan District Detention Center in Beijing. Meanwhile, seven of his church colleagues who were detained in the same case have been granted bail pending trial.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Zhou Zixun’s wife, Choi Jin-ryong, a South Korean Christian, revealed details of the church’s scrutiny and the detention of its members. On the afternoon of September 4, around 50 church members were at a hotel conference room in Beijing, setting up for the celebration of the church’s 20th anniversary, when over 100 police officers, plainclothes officers, and auxiliary police surrounded them.
The police proceeded to record the identity cards, addresses, and contact numbers of the attendees while taking away seven church workers. At that time, Pastor Zhou, who was visiting church members elsewhere, was notified by state security to report to the police station and was subsequently detained.
Choi Jin-ryong indicated that the fraud charges relate to the donations made by church members. The Associated Press reported that these accusations are likely linked to the fact that the church is unregistered.
In an interview with Radio Free Asia on October 29, Choi disclosed that the police had asked several church members about the amounts they donated and whether they knew how the money was spent. The church members clarified that their donations were voluntary, transparent, and primarily went towards expenses such as renting meeting spaces and meals following services.
Choi mentioned that since her husband’s detention on September 4, she has been unable to meet or speak with him, relying solely on updates from their lawyer. The last message conveyed from the lawyer indicated that Zhou was in decent health.
Additionally, she pointed out that some church members are still facing searches, inquiries, and threats from the police.
In 2023, the authorities had warned Zhou and his wife that the church had grown too large, demanding that pastors could only lead one church and that the number of attendees should not exceed 100.
Choi noted that this served as a direct warning from the authorities regarding the church’s size and organization. Since 2023, she has faced multiple visa rejections, leaving her unable to return to China and reunite with her husband.
The CCP has mandated that religious groups must “support the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” Unregistered house churches risk having their meeting spaces shut down, being obstructed from holding gatherings, and facing interrogation or imprisonment.
Pastor Fu Xiqiu, founder and president of the China Aid Association, expressed in an interview with Radio Free Asia that in recent years, the CCP has criminalized the voluntary donations of Christians, prosecuting or sentencing them on charges of fraud, which violates international law and religious freedom. He views Zhou Zixun’s case as a glaring example of “naked religious persecution.”