Friends of ChinaAid Visit Family of Christian Prisoner Shi Weihan

China Aid Association
Photo: Shi Weihan (left); Shi Weihan’s wife and daughters (right)

(BEIJING — December 9, 2008) Recently friends of ChinaAid visited Christian prisoner Shi Weihan’s family and reported to ChinaAid about the family’s situation and ongoing persecution by the Chinese government.
Christian bookstore owner and house church leader, Shi Weihan, has been imprisoned in Beijing Haidian District Detention Center since March 19, 2008 for printing and distributing Bibles and other Christian literature. No charges have ever been filed against Shi Weihan. He is being held under “administrative detention” and could be held up to three years without any charges. Shi Weihan suffers from diabetes and has lost a considerable amount of weight in prison, but since ChinaAid’s last report in September, he appears to be in better health and receiving his medication. Friends report that he continues to lead fellow prisoners to the Lord.
Shi Weihan’s wife is bearing much of the burden for their family. According to friends, her main concern is caring for their two daughters and keeping the house church work going with diminishing funds. “She is the worship leader and the preacher and is reaching out to a lot of young people. She is carrying the full load of the house church.” Authorities continue to pressure the family. It is reported that Shi Weihan’s brother has been beaten by police for his involvement with Shi Weihan’s Christian bookstore.
ChinaAid contacts report that President Bush is personally aware of Shi Weihan’s case and has requested information on updates on his situation. The U.S. embassy in China checks on Shi Weihan’s family’s status about once a month and so continues to be involved with his case.
To request permission to reproduce ChinaAid photos and/or information, please contact: [email protected].
To express your concern over the unjust treatment of Shi Weihan, contact:
Tang Long, City of Beijing Deputy Secretary General of the Municipal People’s Government.
Phone: 011-86-10-62362008
Liu Jianchao, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of Information Department.
Phone: 011-86-10-65963342
Read a letter sent by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) to the Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong in September 2008 expressing his “deep concern of the incarceration of Shi Weihan.”