China shuts down 'unofficial' Christian churches ahead of G20 summit

Chinese authorities are banning "illegal" and "unofficial" churches in preparation for the G20 summit, which will be held in Hangzhou.

Many heads of state will arrive in the city for a two-day meeting in September. Authorities say closing the churches in Hangzhou was meant for safety purposes.

According to the local tabloid The Global Times, religious activities will be banned in Jinhua in the Xiaoshan district up to four days after the event is concluded "in order to create a safe environment for the meeting."

Even now, several house churches have already been closed, the outlet reported.

The report comes at the heels of a previous announcement from authorities that there will be a week-long holiday covering the days of the summit and that residents are encouraged to be somewhere else during those days in order to ease congestion in the area.

One unofficial Protestant church that has existed for 40 years in the city's Jianghan district and has around 2,000 members received a warning about the "illegal gatherings" they were apparently holding. The religious affairs bureau instructed it to "reform its illegal gathering activities," according to Radio Free Asia.

Along with the notice came officials who took down a large cross on a church wall.

The church, which has since then been prohibited from meeting together, sought counsel from lawyer Li Guisheng.

Li said authorities have attempted to convince the church to become part of the Three-Self church, but they continually refused. Their refusal could be the reason behind the ban on church meetings, Li said.

"A lot of people are saying that there seems to be no end to government power at the moment," Li said, according to Radio Free Asia. "They also have no idea how to pursue and stand up for their own rights."

Li also expressed disappointment over Chinese authorities' ban on Christian churches in the city.

"I cannot understand why they have done this... Worshipping God has nothing to do with the G20 summit," he said, according to The Guardian.