Rally in The Hague, Netherlands: Overseas Christians Voice Out Against CCP's Persecution of Zion Church

 

The Hague, October 20, 2025 – 

At the rear entrance of the Chinese Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, a rally organized by overseas Chinese Christians and dissidents took place on the afternoon of October 19. Approximately 80 participants gathered, holding up banners, placards, and Bibles, calling on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to immediately release the recently arrested pastors and members of Zion Church. This rally not only serves as a direct response to the CCP's recent large-scale religious crackdown but also highlights the steadfast defense of faith freedom by the overseas Chinese community. The event's initiator, Wang Jun, a Christian artist who fled from China to the Netherlands, emphasized in his opening address: "Faith is not a crime, prayer is not a crime, worship is not a crime." This cry echoed across the free soil of the Netherlands, becoming a powerful protest against the CCP's totalitarian oppression.

Rally Origins: Responding to Zion Church's "October 9 Mass Arrests" and the CCP's Systematic Persecution

This rally directly addresses the "Zion Church Mass Arrests" that occurred from October 9 to 11, 2025. This marks the largest-scale crackdown by the CCP on urban house churches since the 1980s. According to human rights organizations and internal church sources, the operation spanned at least seven to ten provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, resulting in the arrest or disappearance of nearly 30 pastors, co-workers, and believers. Among them, the church's founder, Pastor Jin Mingri (also known as Ezra Jin Mingri), was arrested at his residence in Beihai, Guangxi, and subsequently placed under criminal detention on charges of "illegal use of information networks," held at Beihai City's Second Detention Center. Other detainees include Pastors Yin Huibin, Liu Zhenbin, Gao Yingjia, Sun Cong, Lin Shucheng, Wang Cong, and Sister Yang Lijun, as well as church co-workers such as Wu Qiuyu, Cui Xiaole, Misha, Ming Li, Tuya, and An Mei. Their "crimes" primarily involve spreading religious content via the internet, deemed a violation of the CCP's newly promulgated "Regulations on the Online Conduct of Religious Professionals."

（Chinese Christians in the Netherlands gather behind the Chinese Consulate in The Hague）

Zion Church, one of China's largest underground house churches, was founded in 2007 by Pastor Jin Mingri. Pastor Jin participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement, later turning to Christianity and earning a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in the United States. The church emphasizes independent operation, refusing to join the government-controlled "Three-Self Patriotic Movement," adhering to Reformed theology, and focusing on personal faith freedom and community service. By 2017, it had grown to about 1,500 members. In 2018, its Beijing headquarters was forcibly sealed by the CCP, after which it shifted to online modes. During the pandemic, membership surged to 5,000 to 10,000, covering over 40 cities nationwide, with online prayer groups reaching tens of thousands. This growth made the CCP view it as a "threat to regime stability," leading to ongoing surveillance and suppression. Since 2018, Pastor Jin has been banned from leaving the country and has not seen his family, who relocated to the U.S., for seven years. This mass arrest has been condemned internationally as systematic religious persecution, with Human Rights Watch noting it as the CCP's latest move to "eradicate" independent churches, forcing all religious groups to submit to the Party's ideology.

（Wang Jun, a Christian from the Zion Church in China）

This incident is not isolated but a continuation of the CCP's systematic extermination policy against religious faiths since its founding in 1949. From the forced control via the "Three-Self Movement" in the 1950s, to the genocidal suppression of Falun Gong in 1999, to recent criminalization of the Church of Almighty God and house churches, the CCP has always seen independent faiths as threats to its totalitarian rule. The rally's initiator, Wang Jun, originally from Anhui, is a Christian and artist who lived in Beijing for over a decade, engaging in painting and other artistic creations. Due to his opposition to the CCP's dictatorship and multiple confrontations with the regime, he faced beatings, threats, and retaliation. In 2015, he was baptized at Zion Church's Songzhuang branch, presided over by the now-arrested Pastor Gao Yingjia of the Beijing Zion Church Songzhuang branch. This deep connection ties Wang Jun closely to Zion Church, where he personally experienced the CCP's oppression against the church. In 2020, Wang Jun was forced to flee China and seek asylum in the Netherlands. At the rally, he stated that the event was hosted by the "Joint Organization of Persecuted Chinese Christian Communities," coordinated by Jiang Peikun. The demands include: immediate release of all detainees; respect for Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution on religious freedom; implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on faith rights.

Rally Proceedings: From Prayers to Speeches in Faith Protest

At 1:30 p.m., volunteers began setting up audio equipment, microphones, and filming gear, distributing over 70 placards listing the names and photos of more than 20 arrestees, and unfurling two 8-meter-long banners. The banners read: "Faith Is Not a Crime! Immediately Release Zion Church Pastors and Believers!" (Belief Is Not a Crime! Free the Pastors and Members of China Zion Church!) and condemned the CCP's suppression: "The CCP Detains Zion Church's Pastor Jin Mingri and Others on Charges of 'Illegally Spreading Religious Content,' International Community Strongly Condemns China's Crackdown on Religious Freedom." (The CCP detained Pastor Ezra Jin and more than 30 Christians from China Zion Church, accusing them of “illegally spreading religion online.” Global leaders condemn Beijing’s assault on religious freedom.)

At 2:00 p.m., Wang Jun delivered the opening address, listing the names of the arrestees and leading the crowd in reciting Bible verses, including Hebrews 13:3 ("Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them"), Psalm 34:18, and Matthew 5:10-12. This was followed by a collective intercession, praying for comfort and strength for the arrested Christians and millions of persecuted believers. The prayer invoked God to "strengthen their hearts, enabling them to pray, praise, and not lose heart in prison," and for China: "Let truth and justice flow like rivers."

（Pastor Beppie Wessels from The Hague's Haven Church ）

At 2:10 p.m., the speech segment began, with multiple Christians and dissidents intertwining calls of faith and human rights condemnations. Pastor Beppie Wessels from The Hague's Haven Church emphasized: "Everyone should have the right to express and practice their faith in freedom, which should also be guaranteed in China. Jesus said: 'Do not be afraid, I am with you.'"

Wei Zhijian, a member of the China Democracy Party Overseas Committee and a Christian, spoke, detailing the mass arrests and noting it as the largest suppression since the 1980s, spanning six provinces. He quoted Pastor Jin's wife, Liu Chunli: "The CCP fears the church's influence because faith brings cohesion." Wei called for the release of detainees and cited John 8:32: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Hou Yongjie, a persecuted Christian, shared his personal story: "My family and I were torn apart because of our faith in God." He encouraged the arrestees: "Your suffering has meaning; do not yield." And reaffirmed that faith freedom is granted by God, not the CCP.

Wang Mangu, another exiled Christian, condemned the CCP's persecution: "Imprisoning Christians like this is evil." He quoted divine words to warn officials: "Good deeds bring good rewards, evil brings evil retribution," and shouted: "Faith is innocent! Zion Church is innocent!"

Jiang Fuzhen, a Christian and independent Chinese PEN writer, titled his speech "Faith Is Never an Isolated Island," expanding to persecuted groups like Falun Gong and the Church of Almighty God: "This is not a religious dispute but a life-and-death struggle between human civilization and totalitarian tyranny." He called for an end to systematic persecution and predicted: "No matter how long the night, dawn will come."

Chen Zhi, a member of the China Democracy Party Overseas Committee and a Christian, spoke on "The Cost of Faith Not Being a Crime," stressing that religious freedom is the cornerstone of social stability, calling for peaceful handling of religious affairs, and ending with a prayer: "Lift them up, deliver them from their plight."

（Christians in China's underground church）

In the dissidents' segment, Yu Yang from Anhui shared local persecution cases, such as the takeover of Huainan Covenant Church and Hefei Ganquan Church, calling for international sanctions and conveying demands to Chinese Ambassador Tan Jian: "Release all persecuted Christians!"

Jiang Hong from Heilongjiang called for international attention: "Religious freedom is one of humanity's fundamental dignities; may light overcome darkness."

Rao Xing titled his speech "The Harms of Dictatorship," analyzing how dictatorship leads to political corruption, economic injustice, social fear, and intellectual stifling.

Yue San from Henan directly labeled the CCP a "terrorist organization": "Without overthrowing the CCP, the Chinese people's disasters will never end!"

Jiang Peikun from Guangdong, as a non-Christian dissident, focused on Guangdong persecutions, such as the dissolution of Guangzhou Rongguili Church and raids on Shenzhen Le'en Church. He called: "Faith is not a crime; the CCP's fear is fully exposed." And advocated for Guangdong autonomy to protect freedoms.

At 3:50 p.m., Wang Jun led the closing prayer, reciting the Lord's Prayer, and the crowd softly sang "Amazing Grace": "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." The rally concluded peacefully without incidents.

Mass Arrests Spark International Outcry and Deeper Implications

The Zion Church mass arrests have drawn international attention. On October 12, the U.S. State Department issued a statement condemning the CCP, with Secretary Rubio stating: "The CCP is hostile to Christians who refuse Party interference," demanding immediate release. Former Vice President Pence and former Secretary Pompeo also voiced support. Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, called it "the most widespread persecution in 40 years." Human Rights Watch noted that the CCP avoids religious charges, using network crimes to evade scrutiny.

（Chinese dissidents）

In depth, this rally reflects the dire state of religious freedom in China. Official data shows 44 million registered Christians, but underground churches are estimated in the tens of millions, facing forced "Sinicization." Zion Church's fate symbolizes resistance: from public worship to online shifts, to mass arrests, highlighting the CCP's fear of faith's unifying power. Overseas rallies are not just solidarity but part of the global human rights movement, reminding the world: silence is complicity. On X (formerly Twitter), multiple users shared the event, calling for attention.

Wang Jun concluded: "We speak out for them on free land; this is our duty." This rally may just be the start of a larger wave, foretelling that the light of faith will tear through the CCP's dark rule.

（Chinese dissidents）

Editor-in-Chief: Jiang Peikun