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Authorities recently detained more than 200 members and clergy of underground
churches in several provinces, closed down a Shanghai church and harassed two
US tourists in a renewed campaign against unauthorized religious activity, a
US-based activist says.
The two Americans, both theological students, were detained August 2 while
attending a church service with 41 Chinese churchgoers at a home in Lutou, a
village in Hubei province, Bob Fu, a church monitor based in Midland, Texas,
said Tuesday. The two students were later released but complained of
mistreatment, Fu said.
China's authorities allow worship only in tightly controlled state churches and
those who meet outside are often harassed and fined, and sometimes sent to
labor camps. Despite those risks, up to 50 million Chinese are believed to
worship in unofficial Protestant congregations, far more than the 10 million
followers claimed by the official Protestant church, which is called the
``Three-Self Patriotic Movement.''
The authorities periodically conduct campaigns to help discourage such
unauthorized groups.
Citing eyewitnesses, Fu said the officers confiscated personal Bibles and other
books, and took money and belongings from the Chinese churchgoers and the
family hosting the gathering.
Fu also said Shanghai authorities ordered a 16-year-old church with 400 members
to close down on July 26. A stamped official notice on the gate of the church's
building declared the assembly an ``illegal religious gathering,'' he
said.ASSOCIATED PRESS
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