Exclusive: Identity of 12 detained Nanle County believers confirmed

Members of Nanle County Christian Church worship
outdoors on Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo: ChinaAid)

China Aid Association

(Nanle County—Jan. 15, 2014) ChinaAid, after conferring with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, received more information today about the 12 members of Nanle County Christian Church who are still missing or detained.

Among the 12 believers, three are missing, while the rest are reported to be in detention centers.

· Pastor Zhang Shaojie, 49, is said to be held in the Nanle County Detention Center. Zhang was taken from the church while he met with the Nanle County Public Security Bureau director on Nov. 16 (see https://chinaaid.org/2013/11/update-three-self-sanctioned-church.html, https://chinaaid.org/2014/01/believers-from-nanle-county-christian.html and https://chinaaid.org/2014/01/believers-in-henan-still-barred-from.html).

Awaiting Zhang’s release are his elderly parents, both of whom suffer disabilities as a result of past government brutatlities; his wife, who relies on a cane to walk; and two daughters, one who fled with her husband and infant daughter to seek help and safety, and another who was briefly detained.

· Fan Ruiling, 38, also known as Fan Ruizhen, is said to be held in the Puyang Detention Center in Puyang, the prefecture-level city that administrates Nanle County. Fan was taken forcibly after someone asked her name during a worship service at the church on Nov. 17. Awaiting Fan are her husband, who is handicapped, and her mother-in-law. [Corrections: A previous version stated that Fan Ruiling was also known as Fan Ruizhen. However, Fan Ruiling, who was released on June 11, 2014, is the person referred to above. The two women  are sisters, both of whom have been detained during this series of persecution. Fan Ruimin/Ruizhen was detained for six days in December 2013 alongside Pastor Zhang Shaojie’s daughter Zhang Shanshan.]

· Zhang Cuijian, 45, is Zhang Shaojie’s sister. She was taken when she went to the Nanle County Public Security Bureau on Nov. 16 to appeal for Zhang Shaojie’s release. Zhang Cuijian has a husband and two daughters awaiting her release.

· Sheyin Duanmu, 44, was taken to the Nanle County Detention Center on Nov. 16 while she was on her way to appeal to a higher authority. Awaiting Sheyin are her husband and a school-aged son.

· Zhao Xiping, 47, also known as Zhao Ruiping, was taken into custody on Nov. 17 after a person tricked her into coming with them by telling her that an official wanted to see her. Zhao Xiping, who is held in the Nanle County Detention Center, was taken two days after her husband, Wu Guishan, disappeared. The couple has two school-aged children. Their daughter dropped out of school to search for Wu, and their son was sent to an orphanage to be cared for in the couple’s absence.

· Wu Guishan, 43, disappeared into police custody on Nov. 15 while on his way to petition a higher authority in a land dispute case involving the church. Wu is married to Zhao Xiping (see above).

· Yang Miling, 40, was taken into custody on Nov. 16 when she went to the Nanle County Public Security Bureau to appeal for Zhang Shaojie’s release. Yang, who is held in the Nanle County Detention Center, has been beaten during her detention and, as a result, tried to commit suicide. Yang’s 17-year-old son was stopped and beaten when he tried to visit his mother in the hospital where she was treated following her suicide attempt. Yang’s husband is also awaiting her release.

· Zhao Guoli, 38, disappeared into police custody on Nov. 15 while he was traveling to petition a higher authority about a land dispute involving the church. Awaiting Zhao are his wife and two school-aged children. The couple runs an orphanage organized by the church where children call them “loving Dad” and “loving Mom.”

· Li Cairen, 46, disappeared into police custody on Dec. 21 after she attempted to hideout at the Zhang family’s home. Li’s only son died in an accident some time ago, leaving only her husband to await her release.

· Yan Beibei, 23, was detained on Nov. 15 while he was traveling to petition a higher authority about a land dispute involving the church. Yan, who is held in the Nanle County Detention Center, is awaited by his wife, whom he had been married to for only one month prior to his detention.

· Zhao Junling, 37, was also detained on Nov. 15 while he was traveling to petition a higher court regarding a land dispute between the church and Nanle County officials. Zhao Junling, who is held in the Nanle County Detention Center, is awaited by his wife and three young daughters, the eldest of who is 11 years old.

· Zhao Zhijun, 30, was detained on Nov. 15 when he and several others traveled to petition a higher authority about a land dispute involving the Nanle County Christian Church. Awaiting Zhao Zhijun, who is held in the Nanle County Detention Center, are his wife and two children under the age of five. His wife has been cooperating with the lawyers representing the detained since the beginning. She reportedly when to visit Zhang Shaojie’s parents, but she and her two children were beaten by individuals guarding the house.

ChinaAid has also received notice that two lawyers were able to meet with Zhang Shaojie and Yan Beibei.

ChinaAid will continue to monitor this case and update is as information becomes available. Please continue to lift these Christians, their families and their church up in your prayers.


China Aid Contacts

Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Website: www.chinaaid.org
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