Shangqiu, China, Jun 14, 2017 / 05:02 am
Local authorities in China's Henan province reportedly destroyed a Christian church building last month, beating parishioners who tried to stop the demolition and detaining 40, the group China Aid says.
"The church was completely razed, and a church member likened the scene to the Japanese invasion of China during World War II," China Aid said.
China Aid, an international non-profit dedicated to promoting religious freedom and human rights for Christians in China, reported that Shuangmiao Christian Church in Shangqiu, which was still under construction, was destroyed May 5 by 300 police officers and inspectors.
Parishioners tried to stop the demolition but many suffered beatings as a result, and were "pushed to the ground," the report stated. 40 were detained, although no one has yet been formally arrested.