Seven-fold rise in the persecution of Chinese Christians - premier

Seven-fold rise in the persecution of Chinese Christians - premier:

Seven-fold rise in the
persecution of Chinese Christians 

Sun 29 May 2016 

By Hannah Tooley 

There has been a seven-fold rise in the persecution of Christians in
China since 2008, according to a new report by an anti-persecution
charity. 

Release International has said that China is seeking "complete
control over the nation's churches" and that it wants to replace
"Christ as the head of the church with submission to the Communist
Party".

Matthew Compston from Release International told Premier that
persecution is getting worse in the country.

He said: "It is getting very bad, there's one province... where our
partners verified that by the end of last year, by the end of 2015, more than
20 churches had been forcibly demolished, 1,300 crosses had been removed from
church buildings."

In Zheijang, the most Christian part of China, more than 60 Christians
were administratively or criminally detained, and at least 28 pastors and Christians
were arrested or charged with a crime.

China has increased its crackdown on Christians and churches in recent
years with a strict policy of the removal of crosses from the outside of church
buildings.

The authorities say crosses must be removed for health and safety
reasons.