The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom held a hearing on Capitol Hill addressing what Christian rights advocates and victims describe as widespread violations of religious freedom against Christians in multiple countries around the world. (January 13, 2026)
[People News] A bipartisan commission under the U.S. Congress held a hearing on Tuesday (January 13) on Capitol Hill to address what Christian rights advocates and victims describe as widespread violations of religious freedom against Christians in many countries worldwide. At the hearing, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) repression of Christians became one of the key focal points. Participants noted that under CCP leader Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has in recent years continuously tightened control over religious affairs, with independent house churches becoming primary targets. Beijing has systematically restricted religious freedom through arrests of pastors, raids on churches, and intensified regulation of religious activities.
According to a report by Voice of America, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Vicky Hartzler said in her opening remarks, “In China, the government arrests and imprisons house church leaders.” She cited multiple large-scale raids on churches carried out on Christmas Eve, as well as ongoing detentions of pastors from religious institutions that refuse to submit to state control.
Repression Under “Sinicization of Religion”
At the hearing, multiple witnesses detailed the impact of the CCP’s policy of “Sinicization of religion.”
Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of China’s large house church Zion Church, testified that her father was arrested by CCP police last October, along with dozens of other church members.
She said the coordinated arrests across multiple cities were “one of the largest crackdowns on independent Christian groups since the Cultural Revolution,” and that at least 18 people remain in detention.
Grace Jin stated that the CCP’s so-called “Sinicization of religion” is not cultural adaptation, but total control of religion under the Party.
“This means tearing down crosses, replacing hymns with revolutionary songs, requiring pastors to modify sermons according to socialist core values, and installing facial-recognition cameras inside churches,” she said.
She added that Zion Church became a key target after refusing to install surveillance equipment in its sanctuary, and that many detained pastors face prolonged interrogations, sleep deprivation, and deteriorating health while in custody.
Grace Jin warned that religious repression inside China has spillover effects beyond its borders, and called on U.S. officials and international partners to speak out more forcefully. “What happens in China does not stay in China,” she said. “If the international community remains silent, it sends a signal of acceptance and acquiescence.”
House Churches and Catholic Clergy Also Targeted
Chair Hartzler emphasized that the repression of Christians by CCP authorities is not isolated, but systematic.
She said clergy who refuse to join state-controlled Catholic organizations have also been targeted. In addition, the CCP strictly censors religious publications, bans certain Christian apps, and removes religious symbols from church buildings.
She also mentioned that several Protestant house churches, including the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, have repeatedly been raided by police in recent years. Its pastor, Wang Yi, was sentenced to prison as early as 2018.
Hartzler said that actions ranging from the forced demolition of churches to prosecuting religious leaders on charges such as “fraud” or “subversion” reflect a comprehensive crackdown on religious freedom.
Lawmakers Call for Accountability
Several U.S. lawmakers at the hearing called for tougher responses to the CCP government.
U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina said the CCP has “written religious persecution into law,” accusing the Party of requiring loyalty to the state to override faith.
U.S. Representative Mark Alford of Missouri said, “So-called Sinicization of religion is not about harmony, but about achieving absolute control.”
He said that he and Senator Budd have introduced legislation in the House and Senate, respectively, aimed at holding senior CCP officials involved in religious persecution accountable and strengthening China’s designation as a “country of particular concern.” “Simply put, if you imprison Christians, if you destroy churches, if you trample basic human rights, there will be consequences,” Representative Alford said.
Other lawmakers also urged the administration to name specific cases in diplomatic engagements and to coordinate with allies to exert greater pressure on Beijing.
Commission members repeatedly stressed that religious freedom is a universal human right and a core component of U.S. foreign policy.
Chair Hartzler said the United States bears a critical responsibility in defending religious freedom, and should speak out for persecuted believers through diplomacy, sanctions, and public advocacy. “The persecution of Christians overseas clearly shows how far some governments are willing to go to restrict freedom of religion or belief. The United States plays a vital role in holding perpetrators accountable,” she said.
The hearing was part of the mission of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which seeks to document human rights violations and provide policy recommendations to the White House, the State Department, and Congress, including the use of sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and advocacy on behalf of prisoners of conscience.
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