(Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China – July 23, 2025) Yang Zhijun, one of the Christians convicted in the Hohhot “Bible Sales” case, was released on July 19, 2025, after completing his sentence. On that day, his family and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ braved the rain to gather outside the Hohhot Detention Center to welcome him back. After four years and three months apart, they embraced in tears outside the facility.
Case Overview: Nine Christians from Hohhot House Church
The case involved nine Christians from a house church in Hohhot City: Wang Honglan, Wang Jiale, Liu Minna, Yang Zhijun, Ji Heying, Ji Guolong, Zhang Wang, Liu Wei, and Li Chao. Out of their faith and kindness, they used their own funds to purchase Bibles legally from the government-sanctioned “Three-Self” Church, all of which were officially published in Nanjing.
They then resold the Bibles to other Christians at subsidized, below-cost prices, aiming solely to help others rather than profit. In addition, they printed some gospel pamphlets.
Charges and Arrest
However, these actions were prosecuted as those of an “organized criminal group.” Wang Honglan was labeled the “ringleader” of this so-called group, while Yang Zhijun, Wang Jiale, and Liu Minna were accused of being “key members of a criminal group.”
On April 14, 2021, all nine were arrested by the Huimin District Public Security Bureau in Hohhot. On November 22, 2021, the Huimin District Procuratorate formally transferred the case to court for prosecution. The Huimin District Court had an open trial for this case on November 20, 2023.
Verdict and Sentencing
The judicial department of Humin, Hohhot City, ultimately convicted the nine Christians of “illegal business operations,” sentencing them to prison terms ranging from four years and ten months to one year, along with fines ranging from one million yuan to five thousand yuan. Wang Honglan is scheduled to be the last to complete her sentence, with her expected release date being February 14, 2026. Yang Zhijun received a sentence of four years and three months, along with a fine of 150,000 yuan, and his sentence was completed on July 19, 2025.
Allegations of Rights Violations
Throughout the proceedings of this case, numerous illegal acts that were committed, including prolonged pretrial detention, coerced confessions through torture. The trial, which began on November 20, 2023, lasted nearly 50 days. During the hearings held January 4 to 8, 2024, Yang Zhijun firmly declared his innocence in court, pointing out that no evidence showed they profited from Bible sales and that all the evidence was riddled with flaws, none of which were qualified. He stated that he would accept the accusations only if the prosecution presented solid proof of crime. Yang Zhijun said in court: “We are Christians, and the Bible is sacred to us. Our purpose is hoping that God’s Word can transform many people.”
Personal Struggles in Detention
Yang emotionally stated that he is already 36 years old, and had never imagined he would end up in a detention center, even mistaking it for a prison when he initially arrived. He explained that in his faith, even telling a single lie would cause his conscience to be condemned, and he would confess before God, much less commit any illegal act.
He spoke forthrightly that he struggled to understand why those striving to please God could be imprisoned for over two years. While in the detention center, he believed at one point he was suffering from severe depression and even contemplated taking his own life, but thoughts of his elderly parents, wife, and child stopped him. He said: “The court is deciding the course of someone else’s life here.” Ultimately, he found the answer in his faith, and it gave him the strength to endure. He added:
“To be imprisoned for faith, whether three or five years, I accept it willingly. I trust the court, but I trust the Lord of Hosts even more, for He is the Creator of all things.”
Yang’s final statement in court was:
“Everyone knows the truth even without saying it. I thank all the lawyers for their efforts, the clerks, bailiffs, and the panel and prosecutors. I believe in God. Glory be to Him.”
Family Reunion Video:
Video of family members welcoming Yang Zhijun.
https://www.chinaaid.net/2025/07/blog-post_23.html please see link to embed the video.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Ningmeng of ChinaAid)