(Shenzhen, Guangdong Province – April 23, 2024) Recently, Deng Tianyong, one of the persons involved in the Bible players case who was sentenced to 3 years in prison for “illegal business operations” and was released last year, revealed that he recently visited his wife Fu Xuanjuan, who is still serving her sentence. He learned that Fu Xuanjuan developed multiple uterine fibroids while in prison. In addition to pain, she also frequently vomits, throwing up all the food and medication she takes. The prison doctor prescribed medication and recommended surgery, but Fu Xuanjuan is afraid. Deng Tianyong asks fellow Christians to pray for his wife.
Shenzhen Life Tree Technology Development Co., Ltd. is a legal enterprise established in April 2011, mainly engaged in the research and development of multimedia digital terminal and communication technology products, dedicated to the spread of Bible culture. 46-year-old Fu Xuanjuan is the company’s legal representative. Before becoming a Christian, Fu Xuanjuan’s husband, 53-year-old Deng Tianyong, was once addicted to drugs and could not free himself. It was Christian faith that completely changed him, giving him a new life as a devout Christian willing to go to jail for the gospel. On July 2, 2020, Deng Tianyong, Fu Xuanjuan, along with two other Christians Feng Qunhao and Han Li, were arrested by the police from Shenzhen Baoan District and detained in Shenzhen Jiuwei Detention Center. Since the establishment of Life Tree Technology Development Co., Ltd., the four arrested Christians have undertaken different roles in the company. Deng Tianyong was responsible for reviewing and managing the content loaded into electronic players; Feng Qunhao was the company’s technical personnel, responsible for copying and burning the videos reviewed by Deng Tianyong as well as after-sale support; Han Li served as the receptionist and managed finances, responsible for packaging, shipping and the company’s financial expenditure settlement.
During the first trial, the four Christians and their defense lawyers all insisted that selling Bible players provided convenience for the religious life of Christians and did no harm to society. The defense lawyers argued for the acquittal of the four Christians from four perspectives:
- The case was committed by a unit.
- The players should not be considered publications and should not be considered together with memory cards.
- The sale of Bible players did not disrupt market order.
- The act lacked social harm, criminal illegality and necessity for criminal punishment.
However, the Baoan District People’s Court still handed down heavy sentences. The court found Fu Xuanjuan, Deng Tianyong, Han Li, and Feng Qunhao guilty of “illegal business operations” and sentenced: Fu Xuanjuan to 6 years in prison and a fine of ￥200,000 yuan; Deng Tianyong to 3 years in prison and a fine of ￥50,000 yuan; Feng Qunhao to 2 years and 6 months in prison and a fine of ￥30,000 yuan; Han Li to 1 year and 3 months in prison and a fine of ￥10,000 yuan; in addition, 6 types of players and 2 computer hosts were confiscated; 4 other computers were also confiscated.
Fu Xuanjuan, Deng Tianyong, and Feng Qunhao, dissatisfied with the verdict, filed appeals respectively. On December 16, 2021, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court made a judgment, rejecting the appeal and upholding the original judgment. Among the four Christians, Han Li, who received the lightest sentence of one year and three months, was released on October 1, 2021. Deng Tianyong was released on July 1, 2023 after serving his full sentence and returned to his hometown in Shaxi County, Guangdong province.