Persecution of Christians in China reached its highest level in more than a decade last year, as the government cracked down on church growth perceived as a threat to Communist Party power.
Texas-based China Aid Association (CAA) reported 572 cases of religious – mainly Christian – persecution last year, a 300% increase over the previous year’s 143 cases. The number of people affected in those cases jumped from 7,424 to 17,884 people. More than 1,592 were church leaders, compared with 800 the previous year.
China Aid reported: ‘The increase in government-sanctioned persecution against religious practitioners and human rights lawyers and advocates reflects the overall political transformation that is occurring within the Communist Party in China (CPC), namely an orchestrated effort to consolidate power and suppress dissent and any perceived threats to the Chinese government, including the growth of religion in China.’
