Nanle County Christian Church lawyers beaten, British reporters attacked

Sky News reporters interview Zhang Shanshan. (Photo: China
Aid)

China Aid Association

(Nanle, Henan—Dec. 13, 2013) Defense attorneys for the detained Nanle County Christian Church members were surrounded and beaten around mid-morning on Friday by an unidentified group, who later turned their attention to three British reporters.

As decided after the beginning of a hunger strike yesterday (https://chinaaid.org/2013/12/breaking-nanle-county-christian-church.html and https://chinaaid.org/2013/12/update-nanle-county-christian-church.html), attorneys from the Delegation of Lawyers for the Nanle Religious Case, as they are now officially calling their delegation , made their way to the Nanle County Procuratorate early this morning to accuse the local police of nonfeasance and illegally disturbing and sabotaging the lawyers’ right to practice law.

When the group began going through the appropriate procedures to sue the police, three journalists from the U.K.’s Sky News arrived to cover the story. After their arrival, the reporters began interviewing Zhang Shanshan, the daughter of detained Nanle County Christian Church pastor Zhang Shaojie (https://chinaaid.org/2013/11/three-self-sanctioned-church-pastor-and.html), and Xia Jun, the head defense lawyer for the case.

The groups view of the mob from the office window. (Photo:
ChinaAid)

As the reporters were interviewing Zhang Shanshan and Xia, a group, described as “several hundred ordinary people,” arrived at the procuratorate on buses. The group surrounded the lawyers, began beating them and yanked their cellphones away. They similarly surrounded and beat the British reporters, even managing to take the crews camera, Sky News correspondant Mark Stone told the Associated Press in a news story published earlier today.

Xia and two other lawyers attempted to escort the reporters from the building, but were forced to take cover in a nearby office. Once in the office, the group used furniture to barricade the door. Xia reported that soon after, dozens of women began knocking on the door, saying they only wanted the reporters.

Xia called the police, but after an hour, no police had arrived to help the lawyers and the reporters. The group stayed in the office for hours until, according to the Associated Press report, a government official arrived to escort the group from the procuratorate.

ChinaAid will continue follow the story. We denounce the conduct of the Nanle county local government. We call on the international community to pay close attention to this case of persecution and pray for all those involved. We call of the Chinese government to correct the misconduct of the local government and punish those violate human rights and the law.

Liu Weiguo was received a head injury when he was hit with
a brick. (Photo: ChinaAid)
Christians risked their own safety to bring food to the lawyers
and reporters. (Photo: ChinaAid)
The British reporters eat the food given by the Christians.
(Photo: ChinaAid)


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

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Nanle County Christian Church lawyers beaten, British reporters attacked

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