Chinese Authorities Detain Pastor and Father of US Citizens Amid Religious Crackdown

In a deeply concerning development, Chinese authorities have reportedly detained Pastor Hao Zhiwei and his father, Hao Ming, both prominent figures within a persecuted underground church in China. The detention, which occurred last week, has sent shockwaves through the Christian community and raised alarms among human rights advocates globally.

Family members, who are U.S. citizens, have urgently appealed for their release, highlighting the escalating crackdown on religious freedoms in the country.

The Hao family, based in the city of Ezhou in Hubei province, has long been associated with the Christian Church of China (Fangxian), an unregistered Protestant church that has faced persistent harassment from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Pastor Hao Zhiwei, a respected leader in his community, was taken into custody on March 18, 2024, by local police. His elderly father, Hao Ming, was subsequently detained on March 21, just three days later. The exact charges against them remain unclear, a common tactic used by Chinese authorities to suppress dissent and religious practice.

This is not the first time the Hao family has endured such persecution.

Pastor Hao Zhiwei’s mother, Liang Xiaoning, was previously imprisoned for three years on charges related to “fraud” – a common pretext used against religious leaders in China – before being released in November 2023. Her health significantly deteriorated during her incarceration, prompting serious concerns about the well-being of her husband and son now that they too are in state custody.

The family's legal counsel has been denied access to the detainees, further obscuring the circumstances of their detention and raising fears of potential mistreatment.

The plight of the Hao family is emblematic of the broader, intensifying campaign by the CCP to tighten its grip on religious groups deemed independent of state control.

Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, a policy of “sinicization” of religion has been aggressively pursued, aiming to bring all faiths under the strict supervision of the Party and align them with socialist values. This has led to the demolition of churches, the removal of crosses, and the arbitrary detention of pastors, priests, and devout followers across the country.

Several U.S.

representatives and human rights organizations have condemned the detentions, calling for immediate intervention. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued a strong statement denouncing the actions as part of a “systematic campaign of religious persecution.” He emphasized the need for the U.S.

State Department to prioritize the case and press for the unconditional release of Pastor Hao Zhiwei and Hao Ming. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has yet to respond to queries regarding the detentions, maintaining its usual silence on such sensitive human rights issues.

The family's desperate plea underscores the urgent need for international pressure on Beijing to uphold fundamental human rights and religious freedoms.

As Pastor Hao Zhiwei and Hao Ming remain in detention, their fate—and that of countless other religious practitioners in China—hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who seek to practice their faith outside the confines of state control.