The Sunday service this week at an unassuming church in Taiwan was especially moving for one man. It was the first time Liao Qiang had worshipped publicly since authorities shut down his church in China seven months ago.
Liao arrived in Taiwan last week after fleeing China with five family members. He and his 23-year-old daughter described living under constant surveillance for the past seven months after authorities detained them and dozens of other members of their church in December.
China's ruling Communist Party has carried out a widespread crackdown on all religious institutions in recent years. In contrast, Taiwan's democratically elected government has long taken a hands-off approach to religion on the island, where most follow Buddhism and traditional Chinese beliefs, but where Christianity and other religions also thrive.
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