From July to September 2025, Song Yanmei, a Christian in her 60s from The Church of Almighty God (CAG) in Anyang, Henan Province, and her husband were secretly detained by CCP police in a local hotel while in poor health. They were subjected to violent brainwashing for 48 and 84 days, respectively.
On July 2, 2025, village officials and several police officers from the local police station broke into Song Yanmei’s home, arrested her husband, and confiscated a computer and mobile phones. On July 5, officers from the police station and the Municipal Public Security Bureau searched their residence again. On July 11, at 5:00 a.m., police staked out her home. More than ten officers and local officials then carried out a “dragnet-style” search of the premises, seizing religious books and SIM cards and forcibly taking 80,000 RMB (approximately USD 11,580) in savings. That same day, Song Yanmei was forcibly taken away and secretly detained in an unmarked hotel, where she was subjected to brainwashing.
During the brainwashing period, Song Yanmei was placed under 24-hour surveillance and forced to stand for extended periods or sit on a tiny stool while watching videos that denied and blasphemed God, with her sleep and movement severely restricted. She was repeatedly deprived of normal meals and given only small amounts of food, and prolonged hunger led to significant weight loss. Police accused her of “believing in God instead of the Party,” and threatened that if she continued her faith, her land and pension would be confiscated and she could face imprisonment. She was also forced to take unidentified antihypertensive medication. Even when her blood pressure rose above 200 mmHg, she was not provided with proper medical treatment.
Police repeatedly pressured and forced Song Yanmei to sign the “Three Statements” renouncing her faith and to identify other CAG Christians, but she refused. During this period, officers instigated her two sons to persuade her; her eldest son even threatened her by slamming his head against a wall, saying that if she did not abandon her faith, it would jeopardize her children’s jobs and future prospects. The CCP’s persecution has inflicted ongoing psychological pressure and emotional harm on her family members.
After 48 days, Song Yanmei was released and returned home because the brainwashing had failed. Upon her return, she discovered that surveillance cameras had been installed at her residence. More alarmingly, because she refused to sign the “Three Statements,” the police continued to target her, arranging several security personnel to monitor and guard her in three rotating shifts around the clock, severely depriving her of personal freedom. Her husband remained in detention and was not released until 84 days later.
This incident reflects the CCP’s long-term, systematic persecution of religious belief, involving illegal detention, psychological and physical abuse, and coercion through the use of family members as leverage.
Under international human rights law, no one shall be subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, or forced renunciation of religious faith. The CCP’s persecution of Song Yanmei and her husband clearly violates international human rights standards, including the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and constitutes a serious violation of their fundamental human rights.
Nearly 500 Christians Arrested in Zhejiang; Several Elderly Believers Subjected to Forced Brainwashing and Physical Punishment
In 2025, the CCP launched a large-scale nationwide“Zero-Out Campaign” to further its goal of completely destroying The Church of Almighty God. From February to September, police in Zhejiang Province continued to arrest CAG Christians. According to incomplete statistics, at least 469 CAG Christians were arrested, including at least 94 elderly believers aged 70 or above, with the oldest being 93 years old. Several elderly Christians were sent to so-called “legal education centers” or “study centers” (commonly known as brainwashing facilities), where they were subjected to prolonged standing as punishment, beatings, starvation, and other forms of corporal punishment and abuse, causing severe physical and psychological harm.
On June 25, 2025, police in Zhuji City carried out a coordinated arrest operation targeting The Church of Almighty God, resulting in the arrest of at least 15 CAG Christians. Among them were three elderly believers: Zhang Yi (pseudonym, female, 75), Liu Wei (pseudonym, male, 77), and Nan Lin (pseudonym, female, 70). After their arrest, they were forcibly taken to brainwashing facilities, where they were subjected to corporal punishment.
Zhang Yi recalled: “They forced me to stand as punishment for several consecutive days, for hours at a time. When I refused to provide the information they demanded, a police officer repeatedly struck my face with a notebook—up and down, left and right—dozens of times. My face immediately felt burning hot and numb, with searing pain. I became dizzy and disoriented, nearly collapsing, and my blood pressure suddenly spiked. For several days afterward, I continued to feel dizzy.”
Subsequently, Zhang Yi was forced to stand as punishment for three consecutive days, at least four hours each day. She said, “Each time, my waist ached severely, my back felt sore, and my feet went numb—it was extremely painful. While standing there, time seemed to pass so slowly, so slowly, so slowly.”
Zhang Yi’s husband, Liu Wei, was detained for 20 days in the brainwashing facility and lost more than 5 kg (approximately 11 lbs). After his release, even neighbors could hardly recognize him.
According to Liu Wei, from June 29 to July 14, he was given only 100–150 grams (approximately 3.5–5.3 oz) of rice and a small portion of vegetables per meal. Prolonged hunger left him with stomach pain for many days. During this period, he was repeatedly forced to stand as punishment, each time for more than two hours. Because he suffers from multiple illnesses and could not stand for long periods, he tried to support himself by placing his hands on his hips, but public security officers forcibly stopped him. When he explained his physical condition, an officer responded, “We know you’re ill—that’s why you need to suffer more!” In addition, Liu Wei was beaten and had cold water poured over his head, causing water to enter his eyes and ears and leaving him in severe physical discomfort.
Following her arrest, Nan Lin, who had previously suffered from lung cancer, was arrested and taken to a hotel for brainwashing. Because she refused to undergo “transformation” or disclose church information, she was forced to stand as punishment for 16 consecutive days starting June 28, for five to six hours each day. Given only minimal food, she endured prolonged hunger and severe stomach pain.
Nan Lin said, “While being forced to stand, I often suffered from cramps, and my back and waist ached severely. My health was already poor, and the stomach pain was the worst. When I coughed, I even coughed up blood. The police knew I was seriously ill, but they arrest you whether you’re sick or not.” After 16 days, hospital examinations confirmed that she was suffering from multiple serious illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal cholesterol levels, and a recurrence of lung cancer. Fearing liability, the police were forced to release her. Upon her release, they threatened her: “If we catch you again next time, you’ll go to prison. We won’t let you off.”
When she was released, Nan Lin had lost 4 kg (approximately 9 lbs) and was barely recognizable; her family was heartbroken upon seeing her condition.
Another Christian, Li Lu, said: “On the night of April 2, they measured my blood pressure: systolic 170 mmHg and diastolic 80 mmHg. My legs were severely swollen. I even had to stand while eating. Every day I was forced to stand and watch television, unable to move my hands or feet; if I moved even slightly, the guards would shout at me to keep still.” After four days, her body was clearly failing. She said: “My whole body began to tremble, and I felt I could collapse at any moment while standing.”
In addition, several elderly CAG Christians were forced under intense pressure to sign the “Three Statements” (including guarantees to renounce their faith). Among them was a 93-year-old believer. After being forced to sign the “Three Statements,” they have lived in deep anguish.
