At the outset of 2021, few Americans understand the disturbing degree to which Christians and Uighur Muslims in China are persecuted and how Beijing’s ongoing assault on these communities constitutes one of the primary human rights tragedies taking place today.
China’s Christian community—estimated at 100 to 130 million people—has suffered increased state suppression, including the destruction of churches and the removal of crosses from church roofs as well as the harassment of priests. According to ChinaAid’s 2018 report, there has been a sharp uptick in persecution of Christians in China—more than 5,000 people have been detained, including more than 1,000 church leaders.