10/30/2024 China (International Christian Concern) — Several locations and congregations of the Beijing Zion Church were raided on Oct. 20, according to Bitter Winter magazine and various human rights groups.

Authorities raided four church service locations in Beijing, recording details of everyone attending the services. They then arrested 12 people, including Elder Qin Guoliang, who was given a 14-day detention sentence. 

Authorities banned Beijing Zion Church in April 2018 after the church refused to install CCTV cameras inside their building. The church also hadn’t registered with authorities. Since then, the church has continued to gather for worship and Bible teaching, meeting in various locations throughout Beijing.

Numerous Protestant churches in Beijing have protested and pushed back at the growing interference from President Xi Jinping’s government and communist authorities into the affairs of underground or unregistered churches. 

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