They are also being jailed.
In Inner Mongolia, nine Christians were handed prison sentences ranging from just under one year to nearly five years for distributing Bibles through an unofficial house church. They were found guilty of engaging in illegal business operations for selling officially printed Bibles that were produced in Nanjing but circulated outside government-regulated channels. The harshest punishment was given to Wang Honglan, who was sentenced to four years and ten months and fined 1 million yuan (approximately $137,000). The rest of the group received various sentences and fines, with some having already served their time due to detention prior to the trial.
The arrests took place in April 2021, when the individuals were caught selling Bibles at discounted prices as part of their missionary outreach. Although the Bibles themselves were legally printed, authorities ruled that selling them without going through approved distribution networks was against the law. Members of the group, including Wang Honglan and Ban Yanhong, had declined to affiliate with the state-run Three-Self Patriotic Movement, a religious body overseen by the government.
During court proceedings, the group insisted that their aim was not to profit, but rather to spread their religious beliefs. They stated they actually lost money by purchasing Bibles at higher prices and then selling them for less to make them more accessible. Despite this, the court maintained that distributing the Bibles outside the legal framework made their actions unlawful.
These convictions underscore the ongoing limitations on religious practice in China, where the government continues to crack down on unsanctioned religious activity. Recently, the Chinese Communist Party introduced a new set of rules, effective May 1, which forbid foreign missionaries from preaching, forming religious groups, or participating in religious work without state permission. These laws place further constraints on religious expression and the distribution of religious materials.
The case of these nine individuals is a reflection of the broader religious suppression in China, particularly toward faith communities that operate outside official oversight. Their sentencing highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate religious life, especially for groups not recognized by the state.