Police halt outdoor church meeting
Police on Sunday took away Christians who were worshiping outdoors in Beijing's Zhongguancun area, an act that lawyers and experts said violated Chinese laws and regulations by creating public disorder.
Members of the unregistered Beijing Shouwang house church gathered at a venue in the city's high-tech business zone, Reuters reported, after being told by a restaurant landlord they could no longer use that venue to hold services.
Police sealed the location and escorted a dozen people onto an empty city bus, the Associated Press reported, quoting a Chinese worshipper named "Kane" as saying about 200 people were taken away and held at a local school.
The number cannot be confirmed by the police authorities.
"We need formal approval from the authorities to allow us to find an indoor meeting place," the Reuters report quoted pastor Jin Tianming as saying. "If not, we will not waver in worshiping outdoors."
While acknowledging every citizen has freedom to worship, Chinese religious studies experts suggested worshippers should hold their services lawfully and respect public order.
"Faith has no forbidden zone, but a religious venue has," said Zhang Xingshui, a lawyer and scholar of religions.
"A Christian community being open to the public doesn't justify congregating in public venues, " he said. "In any case, doing missionary work in public venues is also illegal."
Every citizen has religious rights according to the Constitution, Zhang said, but the Shouwang church leader might have chosen an inappropriate venue for their religious practice.
"To hold such a massive Sunday congregation will create public disorder," he said. "The police did what they had to do: maintaining public order according to the law.
"Be aware that some people might take advantage of the episode and sensationalize it."
According to Religious Affairs Regulations and relevant regulations, Protestant groups in China must be registered with the Three-self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China, official supervisor and manager of Protestant groups in China. Christians who worship in registered churches are protected by law.
