(Hengyang, Hunan – June 27, 2024) It is reported that Chen Wensheng, a Christian in Hengyang, Hunan, was charged with organizing and funding illegal gatherings for preaching the gospel in the streets all year round. The verdict was announced on the morning of June 20, 2024. Chen Wensheng was sentenced to 1 year and 7 months in prison.
Chen Wensheng was intercepted by the relevant department at Shanghai Airport and sent back to Hengyang, Hunan while on his way to take a flight from Shanghai to Jeju Island, South Korea on August 29, 2023. After returning to Hengyang, Chen Wensheng was taken to the police station by the police and was given an administrative penalty of 15 days of detention. After the administrative detention ended on September 18, the Shigu Branch of the Hengyang Municipal Public Security Bureau detained Chen Wensheng on suspicion of “organizing and funding illegal gatherings” and detained him in the Hengdong County Detention Center of Hengyang City. On October 25 of the same year, Chen Wensheng was formally arrested by the Shigu Branch of the Hengyang Public Security Bureau on suspicion of “organizing and funding illegal gatherings” and was detained in Hengdong Detention Center in Hengyang City, Hunan Province.
The case was heard at the Shigu District People’s Court of Hengyang City on April 18, 2024. At about 7 o’clock on the morning of that day, Chen Wensheng’s relatives, friends and Christians who cared about him arrived at the gate of the court and found that there were already police cars at the gate of the court, and there were about 40 black-clad “special police” nearby, as well as staff from various departments, about 70 or 80 people, and they were on high alert. The entire street where the court is located was blocked in the name of “exercise”.
Christians from the Chen Wensheng’s group were driven away when they arrived at the main gate of the court. Christians in Hengyang who wanted to attend the trial were also jointly dissuaded by relevant departments. At least hundreds of people were dispatched that day to deal with the trial.
There are two main crimes that Chen Wensheng was accused of:
- Chen Wensheng was administratively detained nine times for preaching the gospel, one time for 10 days, eight times for 15 days each (a total of 120 days), 130 days in total, and he refused to change his ways despite repeated admonitions.
- Chen Wensheng had organized group or individual evangelical activities many times, such as in vegetable markets, crossroads, shops, and ethnic minority areas. This affected the lives of residents and disrupted social order.
On that day, since Chen Wensheng did not hire a lawyer, the authorities appointed a legal aid lawyer, and Chen Wensheng basically defended himself in court.
After learning that he was sentenced to 1 year and 7 months today, Chen Wensheng said he would appeal.
