November 24, 2009
XINJIANG–Uyghur Christian house church leader Wusiman Yiming was officially released on Wednesday November 18, 2009 (Beijing Time). After serving two years in Laogai (labor) camp, he has been finally reunited with his wife and two young children. Because of his Christian leadership among the Uyghur people, Wusiman Yiming was sentenced to criminal detention “for the crime of divulging State secrets” by the State Security Bureau of Southern Xinjiang, Hetian City, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in September of 2007. He was then secretly sentenced in November, 2007, to two years of ‘re-education through labor’ by the Re-education Labor Committee of Hetian City.
A source who spoke with brother Wusiman informed ChinaAid that brother Wusiman “looks fragile but has a very strong spirit.” Wusiman reportedly asked ChinaAid to extend his heartfelt thanks to all those who have been providing care and help to his family members during the past two difficult years.
“We are very glad to hear this news of brother Wusiman’s release, ” said Bob Fu. “We call upon the Xinjiang government to stop religious persecution against these innocent Christians. We ask the Chinese central government authority to order the release of the other innocent Uyghur Christian brother, Alimujiang Yimiti, who has been illegally detained in the same case without a verdict for over two years already. The persecutors of these two individuals should be held accountable.”
Alimujiang and Wusiman were both accused of exposing state secrets in the same court case in 2007, though Wusiman was convicted and sentenced years before Alimujiang’s case went to trial. Former Muslims, both men became targets of both religious and ethnic persecution for their humanitarian efforts.
According to the most recent report from his lawyer, Alimujiang was allegedly read his verdict and sentence by the Xinjiang Court in his prison cell on October 27, 2009. His wife Gulinuer and his lawyer Li Dunyong both received official notice from the court that the verdict would be heard, but are still waiting for the printed documentation that spells out his sentence to arrive. Alimujiang’s wife was warned by authorities to “psychologically prepare” for the punishment to be severe. Mr. Yimiti has been detained without a court verdict for over two years for his alleged “illegal religious activities,” as a house church Uyghur Christian.
ChinaAid thanks the members of the international community who have offered countless and constant prayers for Uyghur Christians Alimujiang and Wusiman. We celebrate with Wusiman Yiming and his family in their reunion, but continue to call for justice and the end to all religious and ethnic minority persecution in the Xinjiang region.
ChinaAid has supported Wusiman’s wife and children, and other families of religiously persecuted prisoners, through our Family of Prisoners fund. To learn more about how to get involved and see breaking news updates, visit www.ChinaAid.org.
