In one of the largest coordinated prosecutions of Chinese Christians in recent years, 31 members of an unregistered house church in Suizhou in central China’s Hubei province have been given prison sentences ranging from two years and four months up to four years. The longest sentence was imposed on Song Yude (73), a regional church leader from Nanyang in neighbouring Henan province.
Among those sentenced was 77-year-old pastor Yang Zhijin, also from Nanyang, who was convicted by the People’s Court of Zengdu district in Suizhou city of “using a cult organisation to undermine the implementation of the law”. On 21 May he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison and a fine of 8,000 RMB (€1,016).
Legal analysts and religious freedom advocates say Chinese authorities increasingly use Article 300 of the criminal law, which prohibits “using a cult organisation to undermine the implementation of the law”, to prosecute house churches based on their gatherings, internal finances and legal aid between members.
Authorities alleged that Pastor Yang participated in cross-provincial Christian fellowship activities, clergy training and efforts to help detained Christians secure legal representation. The ruling against him stated that he and others managed a network of multiple churches spanning Hubei and Henan provinces.
According to the judgment (pictured), he and others travelled to Suizhou in September 2023 with funds to provide legal assistance by hiring defence lawyers for several Christians who had been arrested by public security authorities. Most were reportedly too poor to afford lawyers. The judgment interpreted this legal assistance as “cross-provincial cult activities” and “resisting law enforcement”.
Leaders arrested, cases separated
Pastor Yang was one of a group of itinerant house church leaders from the Word of Life Church, also known as the All Ranges Church, detained in March 2024. The authorities reportedly relied heavily on surveillance, coerced testimony, confiscated religious materials and online communications. Court documents cite as evidence Bible study meetings, prayer gatherings, pastors meeting for mutual encouragement and even matchmaking services and pre-marriage counselling.
Pastor Yang was detained on 19 March 2024 at his home in Henan by the Zengdu District Branch of the Suizhou Public Security Bureau and was transferred to the Suizhou City Detention Centre. Police searched his home and seized items including hymn books, a New Testament and a tablet. On 25 April he was formally arrested and on 5 October the Zengdu District People’s Court in Suizhou filed charges against him.
Chinese Communist Party authorities separated the Christians into numerous small cases involving one or two defendants, in what China Aid described as “an apparent attempt to minimise public attention and international scrutiny”.
“These are innocent Christians, not criminals,” said Dr Bob Fu, president of China Aid. “They are peaceful house church members who exercised their universally recognised rights to freedom of religion, worship, assembly, and association. We strongly condemn these faithful leaders being sentenced on trumped-up charges.”
He added, “The Chinese Communist Party continues to weaponise the legal system to persecute peaceful believers. Their only ‘crime’ is worshipping God outside government control.”
China Aid has called on the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release all 31 convicted house church Christians, cease criminal prosecution of peaceful religious activities and respect fundamental rights guaranteed under international law, including freedom of religion and belief. It has also urged the United States government, the United Nations, the European Union and democratic nations worldwide to publicly condemn the convictions and advocate for Christians and religious communities facing persecution in China.
(China Aid)
Image: Judgment against Yang Zhijin (China Aid)