(Shenyang — April 4, 2026) After nine months of detention, the Shenyang “Sai Er Te Case” (塞尔特教案), which occurred in the summer of 2025, has entered a critical stage in legal proceedings. It is reported that a pretrial conference will be held on April 7, 2026. Today, the defendants’ families and fellow church members issued a public appeal, expressing deep concern over the case’s developments.
Religious Activities Deemed Illegal
On June 28, 2025, multiple members of the Shenyang Sai Er Te Fellowship were suddenly taken away by police. Pastor Qu Hongbo (曲洪波), Shao Huaxuan (邵华煊), Wang Xiangchao (王相超), and Liu Xueyun (刘雪云) were subsequently formally charged and detained on suspicion of “organizing and using a cult organization to undermine the implementation of the law.”
This case arises amid increasingly strict scrutiny in recent years targeting unregistered churches and independent religious groups across various regions. Members of the Sai Er Te fellowship maintain that their gatherings were purely expressions of faith and community service, and did not violate relevant laws.
Sentencing Recommendations Cause Anxiety Among Families
According to recent sentencing recommendations issued by the prosecution, Pastor Qu Hongbo faces a proposed sentence of 4 years and 6 months in prison, along with a fine of 50,000 yuan. For the other three defendants, Shao Huaxuan, Wang Xiangchao, and Liu Xueyun, the prosecution has recommended three-year prison terms and fines of 30,000 yuan each.
According to family members, aside from Pastor Qu, the other three detainees and their families find the proposed lengthy sentences difficult to accept, and are under immense physical and psychological pressure.
Four Key Appeals Ahead of the Hearing
Before the pretrial conference on April 7, family members Jiang Yujiao (姜玉娇), Ning Tianjiao (宁天娇), Xie Junmei (解俊美), and Wei Tongming (魏同明) jointly issued a statement calling for attention to the following rule-of-law concerns:
Procedural fairness and exclusion of illegally obtained evidence: They request that the court respect the defense lawyers’ rights and agree to exclude illegally obtained evidence, ensuring the trial is based on objective facts.
Protection of witness rights: Several witnesses have expressed willingness to testify truthfully. The families request that the court approve their court appearances and ensure the personal safety of these witnesses, who are under pressure.
Adequate space for legal defense: They hope that defense attorneys will be granted sufficient time and professional respect so that the judges may properly consider their arguments.
Humanitarian consideration: They call on judicial authorities to take into account the defendants’ religious motivations and family hardships, and to deliver a fair and compassionate judgment.
The trajectory of the Shenyang Sai Er Te fellowship case is seen as an important indicator of the state of religious freedom and judicial fairness in the region. As the pretrial conference approaches, observers will continue to monitor whether the Shenyang court upholds the rule of law and provides citizens with the legal protections they deserve.
