AKSU, China — Government-sanctioned persecution of Christians has darkened the landscape of Xinjiang province in northwestern China. Most recently, an estimated 30 house church leaders were arrested April 19 in Aksu city as they met with four U.S. Christians. The U.S. Christians, which included two pastors, were also arrested and later released, according to China Aid Association (CAA).
On April 20, authorities released eight of the Chinese house church pastors but held at least six others accused of being "suspects involved in evil cult activities." Pastors Zhao Xinglan, Huang Xiurong, Yang Tianlu, Wang Chaoyi, Lu Cuiling and He Sijun were supposed to be held for 37 days. They could be sentenced to one to three years of "re-education through labor."
Eyewitnesses told CAA that at least two of those arrested had bleeding noses and bruises from the interrogation in Aksu. Over the last two years, a number of other house church Christians has been arrested in Xinjiang and several foreign Christian workers have been expelled.
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