Pastor Zhang Shaojie in an undated photo. (Photo courtesy of the Zhang family.) |
China Aid Association
“People from the Nanle County Religious Affairs Bureau, Urban Construction Bureau, and other government departments came to the central hall of our church [on July 26],” said Fan Ruizhen, who has been running the church in Pastor Zhang Shaojie’s absence. “Then they posted many notices on the wall, claiming that the building can’t be used anymore, and they suggested that it be demolished.
“When we gathered together [on Sunday], people from the various township governments and Religious Affairs Bureau came to the church. Many people were guarding the gate and didn’t allow us to enter the church. They told all the believers… that they know to leave, and they took photos outside. Therefore, only [a little more than] 10 people gathered together today,” Fan said.
China Aid reported in April that the government had closed off the church building and shut off all utilities, citing safety, but no action was ever taken. “We, the worshippers, opened the gate,” Fan said.
Land dispute details
“We have discussed this issue many times with the county government officials, and we asked them if we could buy a piece of land on which to build our new church. In 2012, the county government let us buy a piece of land at the price designated by them,” Fan said. “We have done all the necessary paperwork at the relevant provincial and municipal government departments. The land was pinpointed by the satellite, and the land was also surveyed. We paid 200,000 yuan (US $32,365) to the county’s financial bureau from our church account.
“However, the current Nanle County Government and its Party Secretary used various reasons and refused to give [the Church] the land as its predecessor promised. Then, in November 2013, they took away the missionaries of our church, including Pastor Zhang Shaojie, and sentenced them on various charges,” Fan said.
More than 20 believers were detained back in November; most have since been released. However, several remain in detention and some are held in a black jail. Zhang was sentenced to a 12-year prison term in early July for fabricated charges of fraud and “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order” (see https://chinaaid.org/2014/07/persecuted-daughter-of-imprisoned-nanle.html, https://chinaaid.org/2014/07/nanle-county-authorities-release-2-from.html and https://chinaaid.org/2014/07/court-sentences-three-self-pastor-to-12.html).
Supporter detained
“It was on June 25 that he was locked up [on administrative detention]. The worshippers of our church brought him some clothes and money. However, a few days later, the local police station called and told us to take back the stuff we had brought over there. On the notice of detention given by the police, it was written that he was to be detained for 10 days on suspicion of disrupting the public order. The 10 days has long-since passed, and there is still no news of him,” Shanshan said.
Many worshippers fear that Ren, like others involved in the case, is being held in an extrajudicial black jail.
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