(Guangxi – April 16, 2026) The “10.9” case of Beijing Zion Church (北京锡安教会) has now entered its 188th day. At present, the 18 detained pastors and coworkers remain held at the First and Second Detention Centers in Beihai City, Guangxi. According to the latest update from the families’ delegation of the detainees, the case is facing severe challenges in legal procedures, detention conditions, and the treatment of family members.
Severe Delays in Legal Process, Repeated Deprivation of the Right to Know
Since last October, the case has now entered its seventh month. Despite repeated efforts by families and lawyers, they have been unable to obtain clear information about the case.
The case management department of the Yinhai District Procuratorate informed lawyers today that the case will be extended for another two months. Although the law allows extensions for major cases, the families have yet to receive any formal written notice.
At the end of March, case-handling personnel verbally stated that the detainees had entered the “final interrogation” stage, but the specific progress remains unclear.
Harsh Detention Conditions, Health and Communication Rights Undermined
Reports indicate that the detainees’ living conditions are deeply concerning: some of them who have serious health conditions have yet to receive effective medical treatment. Under the combined pressures of hot weather, malnutrition, and poor living conditions, the detainees’ physical and mental states remain under severe strain.
Postcards and books sent by family and friends have been repeatedly returned, and basic communication rights have not been guaranteed. Although some of the women in the Second Detention Center received Bibles in late March, it has still been difficult to obtain a full picture of conditions inside due to restricted lawyer access.
Families and Minor Children Subjected to Harassment and Intimidation
Beyond the detainees themselves, their families’ lives have also been severely disrupted: authorities have visited and harassed the elderly parents of several pastors, issuing threats that have left them frightened and in poor health.
Individuals of unknown identity have forcibly entered pastors’ homes, threatening their wives and young children and demanding that they report any travel plans in advance, seriously restricting citizens’ freedom of movement.
Legal Team Faces Unprecedented Pressure
The legal aid team representing this case is facing severe professional pressure. Every lawyer involved has encountered varying degrees of investigation, selective inspections, warnings, and conversations with authorities. Some lawyers are even facing forced suspension of practice or the threat of license revocation or cancellation, making it difficult for the defense work to proceed normally.
“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
The families of the detained pastors and coworkers in the “10.9” case of Beijing Zion Church issued a joint statement strongly condemning all actions that violate the Constitution and the law, and calling on relevant authorities to genuinely respect citizens’ rights. The families reiterated that they will continue to advocate and pray for the acquittal and release of their loved ones, hoping that justice and goodness will soon prevail.
ChinaAid Association, based on information from the families’ delegation of the “10.9” case of Beijing Zion Church
