Three Christians Sentenced to One Year of Re-education Through Labor in Zhoukou, Henan

China Aid Association
(HENAN — January 6, 2009) ChinaAid just received additional information regarding the 50 house church Christians arrested on December 3, 2008 in Zhoukou township of Taikang county.  Three leaders were sentenced to one year of re-education through labor:  Mr. Tang Houyong, Mr. Shu Wenxiang and Mr. Xie Zhenqi.
On December 3, Taikang county, Henan province, more than 50 house church Christians gathered in the home Xie Ruming. Officials from the Taikang County Domestic Defense Protection Squad suddenly broke into the home.  All of the Christians were arrested and officials seized the following items: 22 copies of the textbook “Training in Ministering the Gospel to Children” designed for proselytizing for the children, seven optical discs, 15 pages of proselytizing series lessons and other items.
ChinaAid confirmed that about 20 Christians were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention and a 1,000 yuan fine. They were accused of being a “Shouter evil cult.” However, all of the arrested are members of a mainstream house church group called China Gospel Fellowship.
Tang Houyong, Shu Wenxiang and Xie Zhenqi each received a one-year sentence of re-education through labor for “illegal proselytizing” and attending an “illegal gathering.”
Read the “Decision Statements for Re-education Through Labor” for Christian prisoners Tang Huoyong, Shu Wenxiang and Xie Zhenqi in Zhoukou, Henan province.

January 11: Update— Three Christians in Zhoukou, Henan who were sentenced to re-education through labor were denied legal appeal. Their lawyer, Wu Chienglian, filed an administrative lawsuit, but the local court refused to accept the case.