05/09/2022 China (International Christian Concern) – A Chinese Christian man from a house church in China’s Shenzhen was recently arrested and detained for translating and sharing audio accusing the Shanghai government of mishandling the pandemic control on social media.
Brother Yan Zhihong from Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest Church was taken away on April 25 after he reposted a recorded audio of a German national arguing with his residential committee in Shanghai—a city that has had a draconian lockdown imposed for more than a month— on WeChat. In the widely circulated audio, the German man was upset and refused to be forcibly taken to an isolation ward unless the local authorities could test him and prove that he was positive.
Although brother Yan was not the only person who shared this audio, he went missing for days before his loved ones learned that he had been arrested by the police on charge of “subversion and state power.” They even hinted that he was colluding with foreign forces, even though brother Yan does not personally know the German man.
His wife was threatened by the authorities as well and had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Several other members of the church who also earn their income through managing WeChat public accounts, like brother Yan began to be questioned by law enforcement.
Pastor Mao Zhibing from Yan’s church sent out a prayer request on May 6 to ask for a fasting prayer chain for brother Yan’s release, his ability to have peace, and his wife and family. The chain will continue until May 11.
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