Followers of a church in Beijing were forced by the government to again find a new place to worship yesterday, a move one analyst suggested would be a test for US President Barack Obama on religious freedom during his first visit to the country.
Worship in China, governed by the officially atheist Communist Party, is allowed only in state-backed churches, but millions of people belong to unregistered churches that often face official harassment.
Yesterday’s was the latest banishment of the underground Shouwang church. It was forced to hold services in a park earlier this month after being kicked out of a rented area indoors. Photos and video posted on the church Web site, which was later blocked, showed hundreds of members gathered, holding snow-flecked umbrellas and Bibles.
PHOTO: EPA
Police blocked church members from meeting again at the park yesterday, and hundreds ended up at a performance hall elsewhere in the city.
Another underground church in Shanghai has also been forced to relocate, members said.
Obama, who was to arrive yesterday, will be closely watched during his visit to see whether speaking out on human rights, including religious freedom.
“Sometimes before a major US visit, Chinese authorities show goodwill and release someone. But this time, it’s the opposite,” said Yang Fenggang (楊鳳崗), director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University. “Interesting. I tend to think this is a test case.”
Activists and others in China worry the US doesn’t want to risk angering China when it needs cooperation on issues such as climate change and the financial crisis.
One Shouwang member said the church service is what is important, not the location.
“Whether we meet indoors or outdoors, I’m happy we can worship,” a man greeting members at the door said.
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