Pastor Bike Detained in Inner Mongolia, Then Released After International Pressure

China Aid Association
Photo: Pastor Bike

(BEIJING — December 22, 2008) Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan was detained in Wulanhaote city, Inner Mongolia at 10:30 a.m. on December 21, 2008 (Beijing time) while waiting for local believers to pick him up to  preach and visit persecuted believers.
A group of plainclothes Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers forced him into a car and drove him to Wulanhaote City PSB station for interrogation. Pastor Bike was then sentenced to 15 days administrative detention for “operating an illegal organization for religious activities.” The illegal religious activities charge referred to his work as president of the Chinese House Church Alliance house church network.
Pastor Bike was thrown into a dark cold cell without winter clothes or blankets. He said he spent a “prayerful and warm” evening with the Lord. According to a local church leader, many house churches in that area had an “overnight sleepless prayer vigil.” The PSB confiscated two USBs from Pastor Bike and did not give him an official receipt. After ChinaAid issued an urgent report on ChinaAid’s Chinese website, many reporters and people around the world made phone calls to the city of Wulanhaote. The international attention pressured the city government to release him at around 6 p.m. on December 22 (Beijing time).
Ironically, the Wulanhaote PSB told Pastor Bike they released him because the PSB of Nanyang city, Henan province asked them to release him. However, when Pastor Bike called the Nanyang PSB after his release, they said Nanyang PSB they were not aware of his arrest at all.
Thanks to all those who spoke out on behalf of Pastor Bike. Your prayers and efforts led to his quick release.
To request permission to reproduce ChinaAid photos and/or information, please contact: [email protected].


China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.chinaaid.org

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Pastor Bike Detained in Inner Mongolia, Then Released After International Pressure

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