Relatives and fellow believers confirm that Pastor Huang Lei and two colleagues are prosecuted under the provision on “illegal use of information networks.”
By Lei Yingtai
According to reports from fellow believers and relatives, Pastor Huang Lei, Elder Yang Jianjun, and Preacher Hu Hongtao remain in the Yueyang First Detention Center. Authorities pursue criminal charges under the provision on “illegal use of information networks,” a legal tool that has only recently appeared in actions targeting independent Christian communities and is now being applied to internal communication and religious gatherings.
The detention has created serious difficulties for the families. Huang’s wife suffers from chronic illness and depends on him for daily care. Yang Jianjun has tuberculosis and is held under special supervision in a hospital ward. Hu Hongtao’s wife is approaching childbirth and faces the situation alone.
Pastor Huang Lei founded the Panshi Bible Church in Yueyang’s Yueyanglou District on April 17, 2022, after feeling called to establish a congregation in his hometown. The church grew rapidly, and local authorities soon applied pressure. He was detained twice on administrative grounds, first for “posing as a religious or qigong practitioner” and later for “illegally organizing religious activities.”
Authorities again took Pastor Huang Lei during the coordinated July 11, 2026, operation involving multiple police units, the most extensive action against the church to date. Officers searched several gathering points, entered private homes, confiscated Bibles and Christian literature, and detained numerous believers. Those taken into custody were compelled to provide DNA samples, fingerprints, voiceprints, and video recordings, and officers created personal monitoring files. Interrogating officers repeatedly said refusing to join the government‑controlled Three‑Self Church amounts to involvement in a “xie jiao,” and families were pressured to sign pledges discouraging participation in house church activities.
Several detainees were released after long interrogations, yet Huang Lei, Yang Jianjun, and Hu Hongtao remained under administrative detention. The period expired on July 26, and relatives waited for their release. Police transferred the three men instead to criminal detention, invoking the provision on “illegal use of information networks.” Relatives and co-religionists have confirmed this escalation, reporting that the men have had limited access to legal counsel and remain under close supervision.
The church continues to appeal for lawful remedies and support.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
