(Guangzhou, Guangdong Province) Police released Gao Heng from prison yesterday, but none of his fellow church members can contact him. The authorities claim he was picked up by his father and sent back to his hometown.
Gao’s release
Gao Heng served one year and 10 months in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” On the morning of April 5, ministers and Christians of Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church went to Guangzhou No. 2 Detention Center to pick him up, but he was not there. Prison staff told the church members that they released Gao Heng to his father. The two of them returned to Gao’s hometown in Jinchun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. He is already back in his hometown. So far his church is not able to get in touch with him.
Background
On June 4, 2021, the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Gao stood at a subway station holding a sign: “June 4, pray for the country.” He was arrested and criminally detained for 37 days on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” The Court held a secret trial against him in February 2022. Officials notified Gao’s family this year about his sentence and claimed he would be released on April 4.
Loss of Contact
It is common that released Christians and political dissidents cannot get in touch with other people. For instance, Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti was released in January 2023 after serving a 15-year sentence. 3 months have passed since his release, but still, no one could contact him or his family. His health and other conditions remain unknown.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
