Police Raid Christian Bookstore in Shanxi Province, China

April 3, 2012

Police and government officials launched a surprise raid on a lawfully operating Christian bookstore in China's Shanxi province last week, confiscating all the store's stock and taking its managers in for police questioning, China Aid reports. The Grace Like Rain bookstore, which sells Christian books, arts-and-crafts materials and audio-visual products, has been in business for four years and has all the relevant licenses and permissions to operate. The total value of the confiscated items -- including personal items like bank books, cell phones and computers -- was about 300,000 yuan (US$47,680). According to one of the store managers, Huizi, none of the officials showed any identification during the entire raid, and they threatened, insulted and verbally abused her. During the police interrogation, she was physically punished and suffered injuries. She said although the experience was frightening and stressful, she was greatly comforted by the prayers and concern of Christians around her as well as "God's miraculous protection."