Children were among 100 Christians arrested following a raid on a house church in Guangdong, China, on Sunday, according to International Christian Concern.
The US-based human rights group said eyewitnesses reported that more than 200 police were involved the raid in Foshan City and that children were among those arrested. While most members were released within 20 hours, it was believed 30 parishioners still remained in police custody on Monday.
Locals told ICC that there was no warning of the raid and that police had left behind a notice stating that the church members were detained for hosting an “illegal gathering”.
The Mount Olivet Church has some 170 members and has been running for more than 20 years.
Sooyoung Kim, ICC’s regional manager for Southeast Asia, described the raid as “unbelieveable”. “ICC urges local authorities in Guangdong Province to respect its citizens’ rights to religious freedom…” he said.