Pastors Wang Weiliang and Zhu Baoguo Released Early From Prison

China Aid Association
Photo: Wang Weiliang (Photo unavailable of Pastor Zhu Baoguo)

(HENAN and ZHEJIANG — December 2, 2008) ChinaAid just received news that Pastor Wang Weiliang and Pastor Zhu Baoguo have been released early from prison for “medical reasons.”
Wang Weiliang was released from prison more than one year early on November 25, 2008 due to “medical parole.”  He is now receiving care in a local hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Wang Weiliang was sentenced to three years in prison in December of 2006 for protesting the July 2006 destruction of Dangshanwan Christian Church building in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province. Six other Christians who received lighter sentences have already been released. Shen Zhuke, sentenced with Wang Weiliang, is still in prison in the western suburb of Hangzhou after more than two years. She is serving a three and a half year sentence. The members of Dangshanwan Christian Church have still not been able to legally rebuild their church building since its destruction.
Pastor Zhu Baoguo of Henan province was also released from labor camp on December 2, 2008 for “medical reasons.” Pastor Zhu was serving a one-year sentence of “reeducation through labor” for being an “evil cult leader.” Zhu was first arrested on October 12, 2008 together with four other leaders as they gathered in Dushu village, near the city of Nanyang. The four leaders received four days of administrative detention. Pastor Zhu received 15 days of administrative detention, and then was sentenced to one year of re-education through labor.
After ChinaAid’s report and international pressure, especially from the U.S. State Department and direct intervention from the Embassy, as well as prayers from all over the world, both pastors were released earlier than anticipated.
“We welcome the good news of their releases which were based on humanitarian reasons by the Chinese government,” said Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid. “We hope the Chinese government can follow this right path by releasing all of the innocent jailed believers in hundreds of labor camps. We pray China can realize true religious freedom soon.”
To request permission to reproduce ChinaAid photos and/or information, please contact [email protected].