December 1, 2009
SHANXI–After the Chinese government sentenced five church leaders to 3 to 7 years criminal detention on Wednesday, November 25th, ChinaAid learned that on November 30, 2009, five more church leaders from Linfen Church, Shanxi, were each sentenced to two years in re-education through labor camps–an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Public Security Bureau enacted so the leaders would not be ‘required’ to go through the court and prosecution system. The sentence was said to be effective from November 11th, when they were already detained.
The five Christian leaders are Mr. Li Shuangping, Ms. Yang Hongzhen, Ms. Yang Caizhen (whose husband, Pastor Yang Xuan received 3 years sentence by the court on November 25), Ms. Gao Qin (also known as Gao Fuqin), and Ms. Zhao Guoai. Among the five, ChinaAid has confirmed three members’ 2-year re-education through labor sentences through family members, including Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Mr. Li Shuangping.
The other two members’ sentences were confirmed indirectly by Linfen-Fushan church leaders. These two latter cases were very difficult to confirm definitively at the time, because the family members have been held under severe government surveillance. The five church leaders were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order,” referring to their organization of a one-thousand-believer prayer rally held on September 14, the day after the church was attacked by over 400 military police. (Click here to view the video of the Prayer rally held on 9/14/2009.) 17 church buildings were destroyed and over 30 believers were seriously wounded during the unprecedented mob attack in the early morning of Sunday, September 13. Linfen House Church Christians continue to be monitored by Chinese military police, including neighboring Golden Lampstand Church (Jin Dongtai) in Linfen City.
While the government asked the relevant family members to sign the Notification-to-Family-Member paper of the sentence, authorities refused to give the families a copy of the document, claiming the sentenced church leaders themselves had received them while held in detention center. This abnormal procedure is in violation of Chinese law. The family members of Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Li Shuangping have all signed the notification papers respectively. According to a witness, Ms. Yang Caizhen was seen being beaten severely during an interrogation. Having had one of her front teeth knocked out during a beating, and fasting and praying during her detention, Ms. Yang is reported to look very fragile.
All ten Christian leaders plan to appeal and protest these brutal and illegal actions.
“To arbitrarily send five innocent citizens to labor camps is in direct violation against the international human rights covenants and norms the Chinese government has signed and even ratified,” said Bob Fu. “This case shows the Chinese government is determined to be on the wrong side of history by clenching its power with suppressing the basic freedom of religion and conscience for Chinese citizens. We call upon the International community to hold these rights abusers accountable.”
ChinaAid denounces the arbitrary and severe criminal detentions issued to these innocent church leaders. We call on the international community to voice their outrage against the unjust and illegal procedures enacted against the ten Linfen Church leaders, and urge the Chinese authorities to conduct a fair trial, and release them according to Chinese law.
Contact the authorities to urge for the Linfen church prisoners’ release:
Secretary of Linfen City, Shanxi Province: +0-357-202-6513
Secretary of Linfen Committee Office: +0-357-209-0427
Office of United Front Work in Linfen: +0-357-209-0527
Linfen Bureau of Public Security: +0-357-218-8317
Linfen Office of Petition: +0-357-209-1341
Secretary of Linfen Committee Office: +0-357-209-0427
Office of United Front Work in Linfen: +0-357-209-0527
Linfen Bureau of Public Security: +0-357-218-8317
Linfen Office of Petition: +0-357-209-1341
For English-speakers, contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington:
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
NOTE: If you are a citizen of another country, please click here to find the contact information of the Chinese embassy in your own nation http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org