(Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region – November 20, 2023) Ten Christians, including Wang Honglan, Ji Heying, Zhang Wang, Wang Jiale, Liu Minna, Li Chao, Yang Zhijun, Ji Guolong, Liu Wei, and Ban Yanhong, were accused of illegally business operation, simply because they purchased Bibles from the Three-Self Church and resold them to fellow Christians at a lower price, with no profit motive.
Despite their non-profit activities, they have been detained for two years and seven months. On November 20, 2023, the case finally went to trial.
Wang Honglan, Faithfully Serving Christ Since Age 24
Among the Christians on trial, Wang Honglan is the oldest at 68 years old, and several others are grappling with illnesses, enduring greater suffering in the detention center. Wang Honglan has served in the church for decades since accepting Christ at the age of 24.
She has been imprisoned for a total of five years and subjected to reeducation through labor for one year due to her faith. The church she belongs to has been holding a morning prayer session at 6 a.m. every day for thirty years, regardless of the weather condition. Over the years, to make the Holy Bible more affordable for fellow Christians, they purchased the Holy Bible from the Three-Self Church in Nanjing at 95% of regular price and sold them at 75% of regular price. Not only they didn’t make any profit, but they lost a lot of money.
However, they were accused of illegal business operations and were arrested on April 14, 2021. Arrested together with Wang Honglan included her 73-year-old husband Ji Heying, their second son Ji Guolong, nephew Wang Jiale, co-workers Liu Wei, Liu Minna and her husband. The prosecutor’s office determined that the sales of Bibles amounted to over ￥40 million Yuan (~$5.6 million U.S. dollars). Wang Honglan,
Wang Jiale, Liu Minna, and Ban Yanhong were identified as the main defendants, with the prosecution recommending a sentence of 10 to 15 years. Ji Heying, Yang Zhijun, Ji Guolong, Liu Wei, Zhang Wang, and Li Chao are considered as secondary offenders, and received varying sentencing recommendations from the prosecutor’s office.
Case Delays & Re-Scheduling Due to COVID
The case held a pre-trial meeting for five days in January 2022. Acting on behalf of the family, a group of lawyers was urgently engaged, leading to a temporary suspension of the case. Subsequently, additional lawyers joined the legal representation. Due to the pandemic, the pre-trial meeting was not reconvened until March 20 of this year, with the formal trial initially scheduled for May 9. However, due to a delay at the Hohhot Huimin District People’s Court on May 8, the pre-trial meeting was unexpectedly rescheduled for the afternoon of May 9, and the official trial, originally set for May 9, was postponed to May 25.
The second pre-trial meeting, which began on May 9, lasted for three and a half days. By the afternoon of May 12, several defense lawyers expressed the hope that the prosecutor’s office would proactively correct its mistakes in a timely manner. They argued that the case was legally unfounded, lacked evidence, and had procedural flaws.
They urged the prosecution not to burden those who were doing good deeds with criminal responsibility, and they hoped the court would recommend the withdrawal of the charges. After the adjournment on May 12, the judge stated that the date for the trial would be notified separately. At this point, the ten defendants have been in detention for over two years. A defense attorney mentioned, ‘We are all beneficiaries of the Holy Bible. Perhaps many Christians’ Holy Bible was subsidized by Wang Honglan and other defendants. They have paid a great price for this, and the lawyers urge everyone not to forget them.’
During the investigation, Wang Honglan was subjected to verbal abuse. The judge informed her that she could recount the situation at that time, but Wang Honglan refused. She would rather bear the unfavorable legal consequences than repeat vulgar language. Despite the numerous grievances of the Christians on trial, none of them shouted or lost control. They all demonstrated intentional obedience. The lawyer said they are exemplary Christians.
Trial Commenced On Nov 20, Verdict Pending
On November 8, 2023, the Hohhot City Huimin District People’s Court issued subpoenas, notifying that the trial for this case will take place on November 20th at 10:00 AM. One of the defense lawyers, Fang Xiangui, posted on Weibo and criticized the court’s intentional scheduling of the trial to coincide with his engagements in another city.
He attempted to negotiate and requested to reschedule the trial time, but his request was rejected. He stated that the court effectively created a conflict in schedule, thereby infringing upon the defense rights of the lawyer. The corresponding Weibo post by Fang Xiangui was swiftly deleted.
At the moment, no one has disclosed any specific detail of the trial. Several defense lawyers are diligently providing a defense for the accused Christians, asserting their innocence. Despite the clear innocence of the ten Christians, they have been unjustly charged with fabricated charges, a pattern that has sadly become common in recent years.
Ningmeng, ChinaAid special reporter.
