Qiang (not his real name) and his wife had been discipling believers from the Han Chinese ethnic majority group before it was raided earlier this year. House churches are illegal in China, where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-approved, heavily monitored Three Self Patriotic Church is the only one permitted. Several leaders, including the couple and the church’s main leader, were arrested. Most were detained for five days and fined the equivalent of £2,100, but the leader will be held indefinitely as he is unable to pay his fine of £32,200.