(Yuanmou County, Yunnan, China — October 28, 2025) Li Guiwen is a Christian of the Lisu ethnic group from Pingtian Town in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province. On August 2 of this year, he was criminally detained by the Yuanmou County Public Security Bureau on suspicion of organizing an illegal gathering and has been held in the Yuanmou County Detention Center.

After determining that he was suspected of the crime of “organizing an illegal gathering,” police formally arrested Li Guiwen on September 8. As of October 17, the case has been transferred to the Procuratorate for review and prosecution.

According to the introduction of Li Guiwen’s family, their village is primarily composed of Lisu people, many of whom are Christians. Li Guiwen is originally from Jiangyi Town in Yuanmou County, but in 2002 the entire village relocated to Pingtian Town due to geological disaster. The Christians in the community had already been gathering for worship in their former village, and after relocation they continued the tradition. Their gatherings took place mainly in private homes and did not disturb the public or disrupt social order.

In many ethnic minority areas of Yunnan, Christianity has been present for more than a century, since the arrival of Western missionaries. The faith has positively influenced the local community, helping many people overcome alcoholism and guiding individuals who had engaged in unlawful activities toward honest work and a life with dignity. However, in recent years, ethnic minority Christian communities in Yunnan, like those in other regions of China, have faced increasing restrictions for their religious activities, with multiple preachers detained or sentenced.

Li Guiwen’s family is calling for public attention to the case and asking Christian communities to pray for a just handling of the matter. They hope the Procuratorate will act fairly and that Li Guiwen will return to their side as soon as possible.

Reported by Ning Meng, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid