THE underground church in China just got bolder.
According to a news report, a Chinese Protestant church unrecognized by the authorities urged its members to ignore government warnings and risk being arrested by joining Easter Day services in Beijing at the weekend.
The Shouwang Church warned in an appeal posted on its Google Buzz page, that police would likely detain those gathering at a set meeting site but that it was more important that followers stood up for their faith.
Over the past two weeks, police in Beijing have arrested several dozens of Christians after they sought permission to hold outdoor services in the capital city. However, most of those who were arrested were released after 24 hours in custody.
The police action comes amid a widening crackdown on dissidents, civil rights lawyers and activists, including the disappearance into police custody of Ai Wei Wei, an outspoken artist who is widely known for his activism, AFP reported.
Chinese authorities are increasingly becoming wary of Christians in the country as they believe the underground church could be behind anonymous calls on the Internet for Jasmine protests similar to those that have hit the Middle Eastern countries. However, the church has denied any links to the calls.
