Beijing Church Takes Legal Action Against Police for Religious Persecution

After more than a year of being barred from worshiping and having its members arrested and beaten, the Shouwang Church of Beijing is taking its case to the courts and seeking legal action against the police, International Christian Concern reports. Although the case probably has little chance of making headway, it hasn't deterred the leaders of Shouwang Church, many of whom have been under house arrest for months. Church members have been detained 1,600 times at 90 different police stations in the last 17 months for trying to meet outdoors after the church was forced from the building it had just purchased for more than $4 million U.S. dollars. Additionally, more than 60 people had been forced to move house and quit their jobs under government pressure. "This is obviously repression of citizens' religious freedom and the church's right to practice its faith," the church's pastor, Jin Tianming, wrote in his application for an "administrative review" -- a legal step that enables citizens to contest government actions -- with the Beijing municipal government.