Underground church says leaders detained as China steps up crackdown

"On Tuesday, Li Yingqiang, the leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church, was taken by police from his home in Deyang, a small city in Sichuan province, according to the statement. Li's wife, Zhang Xinyue, has also been detained, along with two other church members: Dai Zhichao, a pastor; and Ye Fenghua, a lay member. At least a further four members were taken and later released, while some others remain out of contact."

"Yalkun Uluyol, the China researcher at the rights NGO, said: The recent detention of Early Rain members appears to be part of the Chinese government's blatant attack on house churches in China. As Beijing tightens its ideological control, unofficial churches are seen as disobedient' to the Communist party ideology and, therefore, pay a heavy price. One Early Rain member was summoned on charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a catch-all offence used to target anyone the government considers to be a troublemaker."

Leaders and members of the Early Rain Covenant Church were detained in Deyang, Sichuan, including leader Li Yingqiang, his wife Zhang Xinyue, pastor Dai Zhichao and lay member Ye Fenghua. At least four additional members were taken and later released, while some remain out of contact. The detentions follow earlier nationwide arrests of 18 senior Zion Church members and reports of about 100 congregants detained in Zhejiang after protests over a church demolition. Authorities have used charges such as picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Public security bureaus in Deyang and Chengdu declined to comment. Church members were urged to remain united and faithful amid persecution.

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