By BosNewsLife News Center
BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife) -- At least nine Christians remained in police custody in China's Henan province on Monday, January 15, more than a week after Chinese security forces raided a Christian gathering, fellow believers said.
Local police broke up the meeting, held in a house in Chencun village, on January 6, saying the Christians were involved in an "occult" and "Illegal" activity, said religious rights group China Aid Association (CAA).
In a statement to BosNewsLife, CAA quoted witnesses as saying that 11 believers were brought to the nearby Huifeng township police station for interrogation. "The police released two Christians the next day, the rest are still in detention," CAA said. Only one Christian attending the 14-strong meeting was not arrested.
SEVERAL DETAINED
Some of the Christians held in detention were identified as Christian women Ju Xiang, 48, Xiu Xiaoduo, 42, Wang Sheqin, 40, Fu Juyi, 36 years, Hong Xia, 37, and men Xue Xianghuo, 49 and Xue Xiaona, 34.
CAA said it has been providing legal and financial help to the detained Christians, and appealed "to the local police to release the Christians immediately. China has often denied human rights abuses, saying Christians are free to worship in the 'official;' churches recognized by the Communist government.
However human rights groups say most Chinese Christians prefer to gather in what are known as 'house churches' operating outside government-control. The latest raid after authorities reportedly admitted that China now has 130-million Christians, at least 50-million more than previously estimated. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from China).
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