(Xi’an — October 2, 2025) Recently, the daughter of Pastor Gao Quanfu of Xi’an’s “Light of Zion Church” formally submitted a petition for a “Review of Necessity of Detention” to the Beilin District People’s Procuratorate of Xi’an. The petition was aimed at the police’s unannounced arrest of her mother, Pang Yu, and continued restriction of her mother’s personal freedom, requesting that the arrest decision be revoked and replaced with a non-custodial compulsory measure.
On May 16, 2025, Pastor Gao Quanfu’s wife, Pang Yu, was taken in for investigation along with her husband and several church co-workers by the National Security Brigade of the Beilin District Public Security Bureau of Xi’an City. The case has now dragged on for more than four months. Police placed ten people under criminal detention on charges of “suspected fraud.” Eight were later released on bail pending trial, though they continue to face frequent summons and interrogations. Pastor Gao Quanfu and Pastor Tang Bingyi were formally arrested and remain in custody.
Sister Pang Yu was transferred to be placed under “residential surveillance,” during which her freedom of movement has been severely restricted and her identification documents confiscated. She has been unable to communicate normally with the outside world and unable to meet with family. Her family and lawyers have repeatedly reported her deteriorating health, long-term anxiety, and an instance where she suffered a sudden discomfort in her heart for which she was unable to obtain timely medical treatment.
According to her family, in early September 2025, Sister Pang Yu was once again taken away by police without any prior notice to her family or lawyers. Her daughter has expressed strong frustration, stating that her mother and family had consistently cooperated with police investigations during residential surveillance and committed no illegal acts, and that further police action lacks any legitimate legal basis.
It was pointed out that Pang Yu, nearly seventy years old and already in frail health, has suffered serious harm to her physical and mental well-being due to prolonged restrictions on her freedom. Should her condition further deteriorate as a result of detention, the public security authorities must bear corresponding responsibility.
The legal team, representing the family, submitted a “Petition for Review of Necessity of Detention” to the Beilin District People’s Procuratorate of Xi’an City. The petition raised three main arguments:
Procedural violation: Arrest decision made without notifying lawyers as required by law
The petition highlighted that at key procedural stages, such as approving an arrest, the procuratorate should inform defense counsel, solicit their opinions, and record statements as required by law. In this case, however, lawyers repeatedly submitted documents through the “12309” system, all of which were rejected on the grounds that they were “unable to review.” No oral notification was given either, severely undermining the defendant’s right to defense and procedural justice.
Arrest decision suspected of shifting responsibility, police avoiding during residential surveillance
Reports indicated that during residential surveillance, Sister Pang Yu’s health deteriorated, yet police failed to address her medical needs properly. The lawyers believed that bypassing defense counsel and quietly requesting approval for arrest was an attempt by the police to shift responsibility onto the procuratorate. By approving the arrest under such circumstances, the procuratorate, in reality, is serving as a “shield against risk” for the police.
Does not meet Criminal Procedure Law conditions for detention; non-custodial measures should apply
The petition noted that during residential surveillance, Sister Pang Yu did not attempt any acts to abscond, collude, or obstruct the investigation. She is in poor health and poses no risk of reoffending. The facts of the case are clear, and evidence collection is largely complete, meaning bail or other non-custodial measures would suffice for continuing the investigation, making further detention unnecessary.
The petition specifically emphasized that previously, public security changed her status to residential surveillance on the grounds of “detention period expiring.” Now, by re-approving her arrest and extending the detention period for investigation, authorities are in violation of Article 77 of the Criminal Procedure Law, creating a clear contradiction in their actions.
Background of the Church and Developments of the Case
“Light of Zion Church,” formerly known as “Mount Zion Church,” was founded by Pastor Gao Quanfu and has a history of 40 years. In the 2000s, it grew to several hundred members. The church was banned in November 2023 and later renamed “Light of Zion.” Pastor Gao Quanfu was also among the second group of signatories to the 2018 “Pastors’ Joint Statement: A Declaration for Christian Faith.”
Since the establishment of the case, police have repeatedly restricted lawyers from meeting with the defendants, and at one point even attempted to obtain the agreement between attorney Zhang Kai and his client across provinces, but were refused. The handling and procedure of the case have drawn widespread attention.
According to the lawyers, Pastor Gao Quanfu once remarked during a meeting, “Imprisonment is a required course for being a pastor.” Pang Yu, the pastor’s wife, likewise firmly believes that regardless of the accusations made against them, Light of Zion Church will continue to walk in the truth of Christ, striving to be “godly, self-disciplined, and law-abiding citizens who love their country.”
She once cited Scripture, saying: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
Reported by Special Correspondent Ning Meng for ChinaAid