In a significant crackdown on unregistered religious groups in China, Pastor Kan Xiaoyong and four co-defendants have been sentenced to heavy prison terms. This sentencing is part of a broader movement against underground religious movements in the country, with the Chinese government intensifying its efforts to control all forms of religious expression.

Kan Xiaoyong, along with his wife Wang Fengying and three other co-defendants, faced charges in the Ganjingzi District People’s Court in Dalian, Liaoning province. The court handed down a 14-year sentence to Kan, four years to his wife, and varying sentences to the other co-defendants. The charge levied against them was “using superstition to undermine the law,” a charge often used against unregistered religious groups in China.

Kan, who is in his 60s, was a prominent online Protestant pastor and a well-known figure among house church Protestants in China. He initially caught the attention of the authorities after establishing an online preaching platform called the Home Discipleship Network, following his move from Wuhan to Dalian in 2018. This platform, alongside his church, was not registered with the government, leading to his sermons being considered a significant threat by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The defense managed to get the court to drop charges of fraud, but the heavy sentences were still upheld. During the trial, both Kan and Wang reported that they were tortured by police in Dalian, with disturbing accounts of physical abuse. These allegations, presented by their lawyers, were dismissed in court.

This case highlights the Chinese government’s continued stance against Christianity, which it views as a dangerous foreign import. The Communist Party of China, which is officially atheist, exerts strict control over religious practices, allowing churches to function only if they are part of the government-backed Three-Self Patriotic Association. This association promotes self-governance, self-support, self-propagation, and loyalty to the Chinese government, rejecting any foreign influence.

The sentencing of Pastor Kan Xiaoyong and his co-defendants represents a broader pattern of suppressing unofficial religious groups in China. This approach is in line with the government’s overall strategy to maintain tight control over religious activities, preventing any form of organization that operates outside the direct influence of the state. The case of Kan and his associates is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by religious groups operating outside the state-sanctioned boundaries in China.

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