China Intensifies Crackdown on Christianity: 18 Zion Church Leaders Formally Arrested

Nov 22, 2025 02:57 am CST

Chinese authorities have formally arrested 18 leaders of Beijing's Zion Church in a major crackdown on underground Christian communities. The detainees, held since October, face charges of "illegally using information networks," punishable by up to three years imprisonment. This action represents an escalation in China's campaign against independent religious organizations operating outside Communist Party control.