Religious persecution, or overbearing regulations?

There's more to this story, I assure you.

I'd bet anything there were more than 15 people attending on average, and that this was prompted by complaints from the neighbors.

The righteous outrage should tell you the story isn't complete. Whenever you hear stories about kittens and orphans being tortured, you know the story isn't accurate.

i agree there is more to the story -- but I did not think there is a law against parties (meetings) regardless of whether it was regular or not (unless of course this was a business -- church whatever)
-- I mean my mom belongs to a regular book club, and investment club, if she hosts this regularly is this against a county law -- seems strange to me --