|
|
Despite
Some Improvements, China Still Persecuting Believers in Wake
of Olympics
 The clock is winding down on
the start of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. On Aug 8,
the historic Games will begin. Over 500,000 visitors will flock to
Beijing and 10,000 competitors will participate in 203 events in 28
sports. It will be the most expensive Olympics in history –
China has spent $40 billion upgrading infrastructures in and around
Beijing.
For
China, it was suppose to be a “coming out” party. When
China was awarded the Games in 2001, the state news agency reported:
“The Games will be a milestone in China’s rising
international status and a historical event in the great renaissance of
the Chinese nation.”
But the months leading to the start of the Olympics have hardly
improved China’s image in the world. In March there were violent
riots in Tibet and later disruptions during the international leg of
the Olympic torch. Also, China’s attention was diverted by a
devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province on May 12.
Foreign media has focused attention on China’s poor human rights
record. But almost forgotten has been China’s persecution of
Christians.
Although China has made improvements in the area of religious freedom
issues over the past several years, the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom says that in the last year Chinese
police detained 600 Protestants and sentenced 38 to more than a year in
prison. This year China is ranked No. 10 on Open Doors’ World
Watch List which annually ranks the severity of persecution of
believers in 50 countries. In the past year there has been a concerted,
on-going campaign by China to scrutinize house church leaders and to
silence some believers. Here is just one example. There is a prominent
Christian, Shi Weihan, who is currently detained in a Chinese prison.
On March 19, Shi was re-arrested for publishing Bibles and Christian
literature. The 37-year-old bookstore owner had been released in
January following his arrest on Nov. 28, 2007, due to
“insufficient evidence.”
Under his Holy Spirit Trading Company, Shi ran a Christian bookstore, a
printing press and travel agency. The bookstore is located near the
Olympic Village and Shi never had any problems with authorities before
his arrest last November.
His bookstore operated legally and it sold only books for which he had
obtained government permission. His printing press, however, printed
Bibles and Christian literature without authorization for distribution
to local house churches. Last January, Shi was concerned about
publishing the unauthorized books, but because the churches needed
them, he felt the risk was worth taking.
Pastors from house churches and official Three-Self Patriotic Movement
(TSPM) congregations have reported a shortage of Bibles and other
Christian materials in Beijing, the northwest, the northeast and the
southwest. Church growth in tribal areas also has created an urgent
need for Bibles in minority languages.
Shi never had any plans to protest during the Olympics. Shi and his
house church have been free to worship and have been under no pressure
to stop the church or register it. However, Shi’s many foreign
relationships formed during his time as a travel agent may have caused
suspicion from Chinese authorities.
The China Aid Association (CAA) reported on April 28 that authorities
were holding Shi at the Beijing Municipal Detention Centre as a
“dangerous religious element,” thinking he may try to cause
a stir during the Olympics. A long-time friend dismissed the allegation
as contrary to Shi’s gentle, patriotic nature.
A father of two, Shi has been held without any family visits. His wife,
Zhang Jing, has received no word on her husband’s condition, and
she has been prohibited from bringing him any food or clothing since
his re-arrest. Until the end of April, Shi had also been denied a visit
from his attorney.
Adding to his family’s stress is the intimidation they are
experiencing from being under surveillance by the Public Security
Bureau. They are followed wherever they go, even when Zhang sends her
daughters to school. The movements of Shi’s lawyer are also being
monitored to ensure that he will not make contact with any foreigner or
groups overseas. The PSB tell him, though, that they are only doing
that in order to “protect him” so that his work will not be
interrupted.
On June 19, the three-month deadline for a hearing expired and
Shi’s hearing never took place as expected on the last day.
Therefore, Shi is now being held illegally.
Open Doors is urging Christians in the United States to email Chinese
Ambassador to the United States Zhou Whenzong to express their concern
over the status of Shi, including access to medical care and medicines,
adequate clothing, visitation rights for his family and a fair and
prompt trial. To send an email and for more information, go to
www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.
It is not too soon to ask: What will happen after the Olympic Games?
Open Doors’ China director says: “I expect that the
pressure on the Church will again be reduced and that China will
continue to modernize. We also hope that Christian books will finally
become available. But there are no signs which indicate that we can
expect any more changes in the area of freedom of religion. China is
becoming increasingly open, but this applies mainly to secular China.
Despite the persecution, the Chinese Church is and remains very
positive. The Christians are continuing to tell their fellow-citizens
about God and the Bible.”
The gold, silver and bronze medals will be handed out to the fortunate
few during the Olympics. But the true winners are those Christians who
stand strong in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:
7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness….”
Source: Christian Post
Rate
this Article:
Tell
Us What You Think.
|
|
|
Subscribe to Our RSS Feed