Henan Christians Sentenced after Interview with Foreign Media

China Aid Association

(HENAN—August 14, 2009) On August 13, 2009, several police officers broke into the fellowship home of Christians in Sanggu town, Xiayi County in Henan, and unlawfully seized Brothers Li Guangren and Zheng Xincai at 8:00 PM. The police officials disrupted the worship gathering, and with no legal explanation, arrested Li and Zheng and drove off with them in two vehicles.
A foreign media correspondent from Radio Free Asia later contacted a member of the House Church for a telephone interview to verify the report. Angered by the unlawful arrests, the Chinese Christian who was interviewed protested the police officers’ actions, declaiming their violations of privacy and freedom as ‘wrongful’ and unjust.  Chinese officials monitored the call, and used the evidence to detain and convict the two Christians of alleged “unlawful social activities.”
On Friday, August 14, 2009, the Xiayi County Public Security Bureau sentenced Li Guang-ren and Zheng Xin-cai to 10 days administrative detention each, with a fine of 1,000 yuan.
China Aid Association president Bob Fu denounces the authorities’ persecution of Christians in Henan, and calls for the Public Security Bureau to immediately acquit and release Brothers Li and Zheng. He urges members of the Religious Affairs Bureau to repent at once, and not to become accomplices for “the enemy of Christ.”
Pastor Fu further encourages persecuted Christians to make a formal complaint to the relevant authorities, to show God’s justice, and to protect their legitimate rights and religious freedom. ChinaAid remains committed to supporting our Christian brothers and sisters in Henan in their time of need.
UPDATE: New Tang Dynasty Television contacted ChinaAid on August 18, 2009 for an Interview with Bob Fu. Click here to view the post, released at 1:30 PM 8/19/2009 on NDTDTV.
Contact local authorities in Xiayi County to acquit and release Li Guang-ren and Zheng Xin-cai by calling:
Public Security Bureau in Xiayi County
Tel:  011-86-370-622-1016, ext. 8206