Beijing charges shuttered church $170,000

BEIJING: Beijing authorities who shut down a Christian church after its pastor criticized new curbs on religion have now ordered it to pay 1.2 million yuan ($170,000) in back rent and removal costs. The Zion Church had been one of China’s biggest unofficial Protestant churches until it was suddenly shut down earlier this month amid greater pressure on religion in the country. In a list of expenses seen by AFP, the Beijing municipal authority said Jianweitang-the holding company of Zion Churchowes them some 800,000 yuan in back rent.

Other items include: 148,000 yuan for overstaying; 114,000 yuan in moving fees, which included 66 vehicles, 18 people and an additional fee to move six pianos; 8,000 yuan in packing fees; 90,000 yuan for three months of storage; 3,600 yuan for two days of video recording; and 55,000 yuan in overtime pay for 55 “property workers”. Zion’s founding pastor Jin Mingri confirmed they had been served the notice but said it was “impossible” for them to pay up. “Not only did they not negotiate with us before moving our things, there’s no reason in asking us to pay this exorbitant moving cost,” Jin said yesterday.

Zion, housed on the third floor of a nondescript commercial building in a northern suburb, had up to 1,600 people attending its services each weekend. But on September 9 some 70 officers stormed into Zion’s premises and ordered everyone out, tearing down signs and the church’s logo. The local civil affairs bureau said the church was unregistered and its activities were unauthorized. — AFP