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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-christianity-religion-crackdown-megachurch-chinaaid-golden-lampstand-church-linfen-communist-a8156031.htmlPublished by: INDEPENDENT on 12 Jan 2018
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'The repeated persecution... demonstrates that the Chinese government has no respect for religious freedom or human rights,' says Christian group Removed from bookmarks I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Chinese authoritieshave demolished a well-known Christian megachurch, inflaming long-standing tensions between religious groups and the Communist Party.
Witnesses and overseas activists said the paramilitary People's Armed Police used dynamite and excavators to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church, which has a congregation of more than 50,000, in the city of Linfen in Shanxi province.
ChinaAid, a US-based Christian advocacy group, said local authorities planted explosives in an underground worship hall to demolish the building following, constructed with nearly $2.6m (£1.9m) in contributions from local worshippers in one of China's poorest regions.
The church had faced "repeated persecution" by the Chinese [...]
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