CAA(Philadelphia)-August 6, 2004
Three Christians Sentenced One to Three Years Imprisonment in Hangzhou on Friday; More than One hundred Christians Arrested in Henan Province Today
CAA learned three famous Chinese house church Christians were sentenced one to three years imprisonment respectively by the Intermediate People’s Court of Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province on Friday(August 6, Beijing Time). Both defense attorneys and some family members were present when the chief judge pronounced the court decision at about 10am in the court room. All of them were charged of “illegally soliciting, providing national intelligence to overseas organizations”. The sentences against Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were three, two and one year respectively. Sources say the prosecutors accused the three Christians leaking information about a court case which happened in Anshan city, Liaoning province to an overseas magazine in 2000. That case referred to was about an appeal filed by a house church Christian Ms. Li Baozhi who was sentenced to one and a half years re-education through labour after she was accused as an “evil cult member.” Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were accused of sending their report to “overseas magazine and organizations”.The court verdict papers showed Liu was also charged for writing about reports on the government’s actions on the destruction of the house church buildings in several areas of Zhejiang province in 2003. They were al sentenced according to the Article 111 of the Chinese Criminal Law. According to an eyewitness in the court, all three appear in good health. All three decide to make further appeal to the higher court.
CAA strongly deplores these unfair, unjust and baseless sentences. CAA urges the international community to continue to build up pressure for the release of these three innocent believers.
Meanwhile, at about 11am at the same day, more than one hundred House Church Christians were arrested at Luoyang City, Henan province while they were having a fellowship together. The interrogations are still undergoing before this report released.
More Than 100 House Church Leaders Arrested in Henan
August 6, 2004
On August 6, 2004, more than 100 house church leaders have been arrested in Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. (CAA apologizes to readers for mistakenly putting Luoyang city instead of Kaifeng city in our previous report yesterday). According to an eyewitness report who managed her escape from the arrest scene, the group was just starting their first day meeting for a two-week retreat when they were surrounded by more than 200 military police, Public Security Bureau (PSB) and other officers, who arrived at the scene in about 20 police and military vehicles along with 6 minibuses. No arrest warrants or even official identification papers were shown by officers as they carried out the assault.
The meeting was being held at the house of one of the retreat organizers whose name is unavailable. His family members including his wife, Ms. Xiang Zi and three 8-11 year-old children were also arrested. “These children were crying a lot when being dragged away”, this eyewitness said.
This cross-provincial meeting was sponsored by Henan House Church, a non-denominational large house-church network headquartered in Henan Province. The arrested are from different provinces including Heilongjiang, Liaoning and other parts of Cities throughout Henan province. Some known leaders among the arrested are Mr. Zhang Wanshun(Sanmenxia city, Mr. Zhang Tianyun(Nanyang city) and Mr. Yu Guoying(Tongxu county).
Meanwhile, a house church leader from Yima county, Sanmenxia City, Henan was also arrested on his way to the same meeting. He was to carry some Christian literatures including Christian Life Quarterly Magazine to the retreat attendants. His house was raided and lots of Christian literatures were confiscated.
“These cases show irrefutable evidence of the worsening situation on religious persecution in China,” said Bob Fu, CAA’s president. “We urge people of all faith to take actions to address your concerns.”
Letters of protest can be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC at the following address:
Ambassador Yang Jiechi
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008
Tel:(202) 328-2500 Fax:(202) 588-0032
Director of Religious Affairs: (202) 328-2512
Issued by China Aid Association, Inc. on August 6, 2004.
More on our website
China Aid Association, Inc.
PO Box 263
Glenside, PA19038
(267) 205-5210
Fax: (215) 886-1668
More on our website
12:19:15 AM 
|
|
