ICC Note:

A Chinese pastor was blacklisted and refused a passport to travel to Hong Kong and Macau. He had been mislabeled as a follower of Falun Gong. Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual and exercise practice that has been listed as a cult. Its followers have suffered severe persecution similar to Christians in China. Even after the pastor produced a certificate showing he was a pastor and not a follower of Falun Gong, he was still denied a passport. Christians have been under increased control and scrutiny of the Chinese government. China oppresses groups that have the ability to unify and gather groups of people. The last two years have seen a massive crackdown on religious practices in China.

11/16/2018 China (Gospel Herald) – A pastor in China’s central Henan province was blacklisted and refused a passport and a pass to Hong Kong and Macau when officials mistakenly labeled him as a member of a persecuted spiritual practice.

Persecution watchdog China Aid reports that the incident occurred when Kang Jinqun, pastor of Jesus Christ Church in Nanyang, Henan, went to the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Sheqi County Public Security Bureau to apply for a passport and a pass to Hong Kong and Maca.

However, authorities refused to issue his documents after scanning his ID card and discovering he had been blacklisted as a Falun Gong practitioner. After local police station issued a certificate proving that he was a pastor, and he attempted to re-apply, but was denied again. While he is a Christian, Kang said he anticipates having trouble traveling in the future due to his mistaken religious identity.

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