10/18/2021 China (International Christian Concern) – Christian schools in China are becoming the latest targets of the Chinese government, as the latter seeks to curb religious education that is not sanctioned by the state.
On October 12, police from Jiangsu province’s Suzhou took away five Chinese staff, including the director Wang Jian, of Abeka Academy— a Christian homeschool education program based in the United States. For days, they have been unheard of. Other teachers from Abeka Academy sent out prayer requests to ask for prayers for the five detainees.
Affiliated with Pensacola Christian College that produces K-12 curriculum materials that are used by Christian schools and homeschooling families around the world, Abeka aims to support and equip students, teachers, and parents by providing academic resources based upon biblical values.
According to China Aid, local authorities deem the academy’s program a violation of Article 24 of the Chinese Constitution. The fact that it is very popular among Chinese Christians is what prompted the police intervention.
Asia News reports that following Suzhou’s raid, police also moved against a Christian school in Zhenjiang. Officers took 10 children, three teachers and three parents into custody. The pupils were released immediately, but as of last Thursday, nothing was known of the other detainees.
In addition, other Christian institutions at Wuxi, Foshan (Guangdong province), and Zhijiang Covenant High School (Zhejiang province) were also raided by the local authorities.
It is possible that the crackdown against Christian academies and homeschool facilities is a response to the recently announced “Administrative Measures for Religious Institutions” that came into effect on September 1. This set of regulations further subject religious schools in China to submit to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) control.
For interviews, please contact Addison Parker: press@persecution.org.
