ChinaAid: Xinjiang Christian Zhu Jinfeng, detained, charged with conducting “illegal” Christian activity.

 “Christianity is not a cult, and we are not criminals,” Zhu told South China Morning Post on Friday. “We do pray for our country, too, in our gatherings.”

             Xinjiang Christian Zhu Jinfeng, 60, says she attends "house churches" - religious services at home - instead of state-sanctioned ones because she prefers to talk to God without going through China's administration of religious affairs.

            But Zhu’s habits of more than 10 years came to an abrupt end after local policemen stormed into her home last month during a Bible study session she held with elderly neighbors.

            The group was dismissed on site. Zhu was briefly detained, charged with conducting “illegal” Christian activity, and fined 200 yuan (HK$250).  Zhu, while still shaken by the raid, hasn’t given up her fight for her freedom to worship in her own home.  She decided to appeal her case by filing an application for “administrative reconsideration,” a legal action pursued by Chinese citizens when they feel their rights are infringed upon.
            ChinaAid and an activist lawyer in Beijing, offered to help Zhu draft the application letter.  But when she tried to submit it, a local official told her to visit at another time when “at least two people were present” - presumably to follow government protocol.
            “I am lost and desperate now,” Zhu sobbed while revealing her frustrations and she has had to stop worshipping God at home, but she still refuses to go to a state-sanctioned church - as suggested by law enforcement officers.
             Christians who go to "unauthorised" places to worship have been increasingly persecuted in the last few years.  Christians are also being given harsher punishments.  

Click here to help defend men and women like Zhu who just want religious freedom

More than 200 police officers and government officials in Henan province raided a house church, taking more than 50 Christians into custody and criminally detaining eight of them.

          

That was one year ago . . . now their case has gone to court.

          And, the result was not good – seven were charged with “cult activity” and they all received prison sentences – from the pastor to a few ladies who were making copies of the sermons.

          You might remember last year the officials raided the house church where 54 young people were quietly attending a Bible study class.

          Suddenly, more than 200 police and government officials surrounded the meeting place and took all the students away, including a mother and her one-year-old infant!

          The entire police force of Ye county, officials from the township government, armed police and the fire brigade, and anti-terrorism police were all out in force to execute the police action.  Police were also equipped with two water cannons. In addition, the Pingdingshan Public Security Bureau and officers from the police stations of two neighboring townships also assisted in the raid.

          The Ye county Public Security Bureau has repeatedly refused to produce the legally required paperwork to the family of the detainees.  The relatives learned through private connections that the Public Security Bureau has already formally arrested the Christians and criminally detained them on the charge of “suspicion of organizing a cult to undermine national law enforcement.

           This persecution shocked ChinaAid so we’ve closely monitored the developments, calling on the development of the facts of the case.

           Our independent investigation finds that these house church members who are under arrest have not done anything wrong or anything illegal. They are being persecuted for nothing more than the exercise of their right to religious freedom by peacefully gathering to worship God.

          Click here to help those illegally detained present an appeal.

          Now, fast forward to the current day . . .

          where in Henan the seven were sentenced on April 1 to prison sentences ranging from three to 7-1/2 years, according to the well-known Christian lawyer Li Baiguang.  Their defense lawyers received the verdict and sentencing papers just last week. 

          Those who were sentenced were: 

          Han Hai is 60 years old and received a seven and one-half year sentence. 

          Hu Linpo is 49 and from Singapore, a seven year sentence was received.

          Yang Lianbing, 23, received a three-year sentence.

          Zhang Mian, the owner if the residence received a four-year sentence.

          Cao Xia is in her 50’s and she received a 3-1/2-year sentence.

          Wang En and Li Dan, both females in their 20s each received a three-year    sentence.

          It’s unclear whether or not these sentences can be appealed, but, ChinaAid is looking into each case – it’s costly to appeal as each appeal can cost between $3,000 and $5,000.

          ChinaAid needs to be ready to go if we can appeal.  Click here to make your gift $300, $500, $150 or whatever amount you can give – each gift will help greatly.

          I’m asking you to join with me in preparing for the appeals.

          Please prayerfully consider making the most generous gift you can right now.  Thank you in advance for your response.

                                                             Serving the persecuted faithful,

                                                             Bob Fu, President

P.S.  Remember, our independent investigation finds that these house church members who have been sentenced to between 3 and 7 1/2 years have not done anything wrong or anything illegal -- they are being persecuted for nothing more than the exercise of their right to religious freedom by peacefully gathering to worship God.  Click here to make a gift online right now.

 Recibido por correo electronico de China AID