Authorities took a pastor and his wife into custody May 14 following a raid upon a house church in China’s Hunan province.
The human rights group ChinaAid reports that Zeng Zhaotai and wife Wan Juan were taken to the police station for interrogation that morning. Wan was released soon thereafter.
Zeng, however, called his wife at 9:30 p.m. to tell her he was being detained.
Quoting information from police, ChinaAid stated Zeng ultimately received a 15-day administrative detention, as well as a fine of 1,000 yuan ( $140). His cell phone and computer were also confiscated.
Police issued Wan a copy of her husband’s subpoena and the “decision of administrative punishment.” The ChinaAid article says Wan refused to sign the documents.
The Hunan province is also where evangelist Chen Wensheng was arrested last year because of his ministry, notes ChinaAid.
China is No. 16 on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
