"Beaten and pinned down": Christian church members dragged into street after raid by Chinese officials
<p>Shocking video footage from inside a Christian church in China shows officials raiding and violently dragging members out of the church mid-service.</p>
<p>ChinaAid, a Christian watchdog group on persecution posted the story from the church in Xiamen, a Fujian province.</p>
<p>In a video taken at the church, officers and attendees of Xinguang Church shout as attendees try and block the officials from entering.</p>
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<p>Officials then drag a person to the door and the men who were guarding the door were “beaten and pinned down”, according to a statement from<span> </span><em>ChinaAid</em>.</p>
<p>"The state security police came banging at the door, then they kicked it down and dragged those in the way outside the doorway,"<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/xiamen-church-05042020155239.html" target="_blank">Radio Free Asia</a><span> </span>quoted Pastor Yang Xibo.</p>
<p>Officers also confiscated phones and used “brutal force” against some Christian women as well.</p>
<p>As the church’s meeting place is located at a private residence, police broke down barriers and dragged three people out.</p>
<p>Church members had received no warnings, which an eyewitness confirmed.</p>
<p>"They didn't say anything or show any documentation, but they just nailed a man and a woman to the ground, pinning them by the chest and legs using their knees. "</p>
<p>No warrants were reportedly shown, and the church has since been banned.</p>
<p>Gina Goh, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for Southeast Asia has said that China is resuming its crackdown on Christianity since the threat posed by COVID-19 has been reduced.</p>
<p>"In recent weeks, we have seen an increased number of church demolitions and cross removals on state-sanctioned churches across China, as house church gatherings continue to face interruption and harassment.</p>
<p>“It is deplorable that the local authorities not only conducted this raid without proper procedure, but deployed excessive use of force against church members and bystanders," she said.</p>
<p>"ICC calls on the international community and the US government to condemn China's constant human rights abuses."</p>
<p><em>Photo credits:<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chinaaid.org/2020/05/breaking-violence-erupts-when-officials.html" target="_blank">ChinaAid</a><span> </span> </em></p>
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