Chinese authorities order churches in Zhejiang to install 'anti-terror cameras'

The government in China's coastal Zhejiang Province has ordered Christian churches to install surveillance cameras for "anti-terrorism and security ­purposes."

In early March, the authorities mandated that Three-Self Churches in the province need to be equipped with surveillance cameras. Officials have been dispatched to forcibly set up the devices if the churches refuse the order, China Aid reported.

Hundreds of police officers gathered at Changlin Church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang from March 21 to 24, in order to carry out the order. The officials destroyed the gate of the church and other parts of the building. Christians who resisted the efforts to install the cameras were beaten, and some women who positioned themselves outside the church for fear of possible church demolition were arrested.

A local Christian said church members also questioned the need for additional surveillance as Three-Self Churches are already heavily monitored by the authorities.

In a statement released on March 23, the Shengai Church in Pingyang County, Wenzhou accused the government of violating the privacy, disrupting the internal affairs of religious organizations, and breaking laws by installing the cameras. The church maintained that the government needs the permission of the congregation to install the devices, or it would otherwise result in an abuse of power and religious freedom.

According to South China Morning Post, the order to churches in Wenzhou was issued late last year and was implemented before the Lunar New Year holiday in January.

One pastor said that the installation of the cameras reminded him of the "cross demolitions" in 2014. During that campaign, around 360 crosses were removed, and one church was demolished. It gained international attention and drew criticism from religious rights organizations across the globe. Before the controversial campaign, crosses from more than 2,000 churches in Wenzhou dotted the city's skyline.

Huang Yizi, a pastor from Wenzhou, was imprisoned for a year in 2015 for protesting against the removal of the crosses. He said that he has been closely monitored since last week when he told the international media about the installation of the cameras.

One churchgoer said that the authorities had been setting up the devices one by one, but they have not yet installed one in his church.

"I don't support the government's decision and I hope they will not put monitoring equipment inside our church," said the churchgoer.

"We Christians do good deeds and we don't do anything to ­endanger the public. I don't understand why the government wants to monitor us. The government's pressure on us will not deter us from our beliefs and will not affect the ­proliferation of our religion. The tougher the persecution, the more people will be encouraged to follow the religion," he added.