(Shanxi, China— January 4, 2023) Police arrested Preacher Li Jie of Linfen Covenant House Church on suspicion of “fraud.” Li Jie’s 65-year-old mother Zhang Ruxin posted on the Chinese social media app Weibo airing grievances for her son and calling for international media attention.
A mother calling for justice
Zhang, Preacher Li’s mother, wrote:
My son has never cheated other Christians, nor has he taken possession of other people’s property. Not only has he not cheated anyone’s money, but he often opens up his home and helps brothers and sisters in need. Our faith teaches us to give willingly. There is no coercion. There is no deceit. Christians understand the nature of offerings, and whether they give or not is completely voluntary. Tithing is also a tradition of the church for more than 2,000 years. Christians all over the world give like this. Why is it illegal in Linfen? Why is it a crime?
Zhang Ruxin said that she had a bad temper, but Li Jie would often comfort her. Also, he was very frugal since his childhood after his father passed. Once, Li lost his meal card at school and did not dare to tell his mother. Because of difficulties at home, he ate dry pancakes and boiled water for every meal for a month. Li Jie graduated from university, got a job, married, and had children. His life gradually improved. He and his family were content.
Li’s arrest
However, Li Jie and his family’s peaceful lives changed suddenly on August 19, 2022. Preacher Li Jie, Zhang Ruxin, Li Shanshan (his wife), and their two children went to Gypsum Mountain for sightseeing. On the second night, Linfen police took all five of them, keeping Preacher Li and his wife in the basement of the Yaomiao Police Station. Authorities searched and ransacked their house. They confiscated property without leaving a detailed list. None of these items have been returned yet.
On August 22, 2022, the branch directly under the Linfen Public Security Bureau placed Li Jie on residential surveillance at a designated location on the suspicion of “fraud.”
From a designated location to the detention center
Zhang Ruxin said, “My son Li Jie and I are both locals in Linfen. My son owns his own house in the urban area and has a fixed residence. Why is he designated to be placed under residential surveillance elsewhere?”
On September 2, 2022, Linfen Public Security moved Li Jie from his illegally designated residential surveillance to the criminal detention center. On September 30, 2022, they officially arrested Li Jie on suspicion of “fraud,” and detained him in the Yaodu District Detention Center, Linfen City, Shanxi Province.
Calling for help
In her post about Lie Jie, Zhang Ruxin wrote:
I am also a Christian. The Bible teaches us to respect the authority of the government and to pray for those in power. Now, I am extremely worried about my son’s case. Will my son Li Jie be treated fairly? I am old, and I don’t know how long I can live. On December 16, 2022, I had a car accident at this age and I broke my left leg. Who will take care of me? My son is not around. The ancients say, “When there is an old man at home, the child will not travel far.” I have entered my seventies; I am old, and I need my son to accompany me. But my son Li Jie has suffered injustice[.]
I hope that more people will pay attention to this case. I hope that my son Li Jie will return home and reunite with us soon!
Zhang Ruxin hopes that the media, lawyers, and society will pay attention to Preacher Li Jie’s case.
~Yu Bing, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
