ChinaAid

Henan Police Interrogate Pastors to Disrupt Church Legal Training

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
March 11, 2010

HENAN--On the morning of March 11th, Christian human rights attorney Wu Chenglian opened up the legal training session with a word of prayer. More than 30 house church pastors gathered in the meeting room to study the law and learn how to equip their churches to defend their religious rights. In the mid-morning, thirty police officers from the Fangcheng County's Religious Affairs Bureau and Public Security branches barged into the church building where they were meeting, surrounded the group, and demanded the church leaders show their identification cards. They then attempted to register each individual's identification records without warrant, but the church leaders refused to comply. The officers then confiscated all Biblical and legal training materials, also seizing personal items including cell phones and wallets. They held all thirty pastors for interrogation, refusing even to let them cook lunch (at 12:35 PM) in the house kitchen.

At 1:00 PM, the PSB and RAB officers released twenty of the pastors, leaving ten under the careful watch of the guard. Wu Chenglian was ushered from the house at 2:30 PM and forcefully escorted to a Xinda Hotel in Fangcheng County. She was interrogated for nearly three hours before being released at 5:00 PM to return home. Later in the evening, the PSB office called Wu to come back to the office to pick up a list of all the confiscated items from the raid.

Wu Chenglian has taken on many high profile religious defense cases throughout her career, and has been closely monitored by the government for her precedent-setting legal work. She currently works as a legal analyst and contributor to the Holy Mountain Institute in Beijing. This raid on her legal counsel session and sequential interrogation is just the latest in the series of attacks on human rights defenders and, in particular, the Holy Mountain Institute, this month.

This past Saturday, prominent Holy Mountain Institute researcher Dr. Fan Yafeng was detained for over nine hours and interrogated regarding his work. On Tuesday, ChinaAid received word that another Holy Mountain Institute researcher, Dai Jinbo, was detained and interrogated by Public Security officers in Beijing. Dai Jinbo joined five other Chinese legal defenders in October 2009 in testifying before the U.S. Congress against the Chinese Government's brutal treatment of human rights lawyers and their clients.

ChinaAid denounces the unjust treatment of Chinese legal scholars and house church pastors, and calls on the Chinese government to recognize house churches as legitimate religious institutions, according to the law. We encourage the international community to pray for the continued legal efforts of defenders, like Wu Chenglian, who risk their lives and careers to equip churches with the means to defend their basic human rights.

To call for justice for human rights scholars and their defendants, send a message to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

The Chinese Ambassador
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.

ChinaAid Supports Congressional Global Online Freedom Act

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 10, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.--During a joint press and teleconference yesterday at 11:30 AM EST, Congressmen David Wu and Chris Smith publicly announced their bipartisan efforts to support global internet freedom. Encouraged by Google's recent stance against censoring its search engines, Wu and Smith have chosen to co-found the new Global Online Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, setting a stronger institutional backbone to combat the piracy of intellectual properties and ensure free communication worldwide.

Congressman Smith further reintroduced his proposed bill, Global Online Freedom Act 2009, which was declined from vote last year. The bill targets the advancement of internet communication freedom by requiring the U.S. State Department to annually designate countries which are "internet-restricting countries," create an Office of Global Internet Freedom to monitor and develop strategies to keep internet communication free, and introduces restrictions on U.S. internet companies in order to protect the personal information of their clients and increase internal securities. (Read the full version of HR 2271).

To affirm the Congressmen's efforts, ChinaAid joined ten other concerned human rights organizations in supporting the Global Online Freedom Act, by issuing the following letter:

"NGO Joint Statement in Support of H.R. 2271, Global Online Freedom Act of 2009"

Dear Representative Smith,

We write to reaffirm our strong support for your legislation, the new Global Online Freedom Act of 2009 (GOFA). The new GOFA is an important bill which will effectively prevent repressive governments from pressuring or coercing US IT companies to cooperate with them in transforming the Internet into a tool of censorship and surveillance.
The Internet has given people living under repressive governments unprecedented opportunities to communicate with each other and to learn about the outside world in ways that their governments forbid. But repressive governments have developed technologies of repression, and they have sought to make Internet and technology companies cooperate in their repression. China, for example, has coerced Yahoo! to turn over its secret cyber police records of political dissidents who send sensitive information over email. In 2005 one such dissident, Shi Tao, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being identified by Yahoo. China has also convinced Microsoft to shut down Internet blogs in which Chinese users were criticizing their government, and persuaded Google to censor its search engine results. Chinese citizens using Google’s Chinese search engine now cannot even learn of the existence of information about human rights and democracy on the Internet, including that found on U.S. government supported Web sites such as the Voice of America.
Internet companies argue that people living under repressive governments such as China are better off if U.S. companies are there to influence the development of this medium. We agree – so long as U.S. companies set a higher standard with respect to privacy and free expression than do local providers in these societies. Thus far, and despite the commendable effort to organize the Global Network Initiative, the leading U.S. companies have not been able to do so. But this legislation would help ensure that American Internet companies are forces of increased respect for human rights and not tools of further repression. With the Global Online Freedom Act, when the secret police of a repressive government ask an American Internet company to turn over personally identifying information about a political dissident, that company will have to notify the Attorney General, who will have the authority to order the company not to comply.
Crucially, the bill would make it more difficult for repressive governments to obtain Internet user information from U.S. companies when seeking to punish dissidents or other individuals for exercising their right to free expression, as user data would have to be stored outside countries such as China that use such information to jail its citizens. In addition, the bill prohibits U.S. companies from disclosing to officials of repressive countries such as China personally identifying user information except for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Decisions about what information can be disclosed would be made by the U.S. government, removing this burden from the companies involved.
By moving quickly to pass this bill, Congress would send a clear message that US technology firms cannot be forced to violate international human rights standards. It would signal to people around the world that the United States will act to defend free expression on the Internet.
Thank you for introducing this important legislation and working for its speedy enactment.

Reporters Without Borders
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Wei Jingsheng Foundation
China Information Center
Laogai Research Foundation
International Campaign for Tibet
Uyghur-American Association
China Aid Association
PEN American Center
World Press Freedom Committee

Click here for a full PDF version of the letter.

ChinaAid believes that the preservation of internet freedom plays a key role in support of human rights worldwide. We encourage international governments to take a strong stance in defense of human rights, by establishing policies to keep access to information free for all citizens.

South China Morning Post: Human Rights Activists Rounded Up

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

Verna Lu of South China Morning Post covers Dr. Fan Yafeng's detention and the interrogation of Holy Mountain Institute researchers and other human rights activists.

ChinaAid
March 9, 2010

BEIJING--After Dr. Fan Yafeng's nine hour detention on Saturday, Chinese newspapers covered a broader series of recent strikes against human rights activists and political dissidents in China. South China Morning Post's Verna Lu covered the story:

Publication Date: March 9, 2010 Publication: SCM Section/PageName: News/Nws_National_2 Page No: 06 Edition/Zone: 2/1

"Scores of rights activists rounded up or warned"

Blog post by Verna Yu, South China Morning Post

Mainland authorities have stepped up harassment of human rights activists during the NPC session, detaining a prominent legal scholar and handing an anti-abortion activist a lengthy term in detention.

At least 100 human rights advocates, lawyers and petitioners have been arbitrarily detained, put under house arrest or warned to stay quiet, according to activist Ran Yunfei , who chronicled cases from human rights websites and the social-networking tool Twitter.

Beijing-based Christian legal scholar Fan Yafeng was taken away by police on Saturday afternoon after he refused to cancel a meeting with a foreign journalist, Fan said. Police detained him for nine hours and told him the Bible classes he had been hosting had "generated noise and disturbance" in his neighbourhood.

Fan said police, who have been monitoring his movements since the start of the annual National People's Congress session last week, summoned him over the Bible classes more than a week ago. He believed his detention was aimed at stopping him from meeting the journalist.

Fan accused the authorities of using heavy-handed measures to maintain a facade of stability. "Our human rights, civil rights, personal freedom and freedom of association have all been infringed upon by this 'stability maintenance system'," said Fan, who was dismissed from the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences last year because of his rights activities. A duty officer at the Shuangyushu police station in Beijing said he had no knowledge of Fan's detention.

A handful of human rights lawyers have also been placed under heavy police surveillance. Li Fangping, Li Heping and Jiang Tianyong separately said several police officers had been manning their front doors around the clock since early last week.

"While they discuss law-making during the NPC, they're putting lawyers under surveillance," Li Heping said.

Meanwhile, anti-abortion activist Mao Hengfeng has been sentenced to 11/2 years of "re-education through labour", her husband said.

Wu Xuewei said Mao was taken into custody on February 25 after being sent back from Beijing to her native Shanghai.

Police first gave her 10 days' administrative detention. But they told Wu yesterday his wife had to be punished more harshly because she was guilty of "disturbing public order" on December 25 when she attended a rally outside a Beijing courthouse with dozens of petitioners to show solidarity with dissident Liu Xiaobo during his trial.

"They can make up any arbitrary crime or evidence ... No one will say anything about these illegal goings-on [during the NPC], it is deplorable," Wu said.

Mao, who was forced to have an abortion 20 years ago when she was pregnant for the second time, had campaigned against the one-child policy.

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Chinese Scholar Detained for "Making Noise"

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 8, 2010
Last Updated: 3/10/2010

UPDATE: For additional information on Dr. Fan's detention and the serial interrogations and surveillance of other human rights advocates, read the article by Verna Lu for South China Morning Post--3/8/2010.

BEIJING--On Saturday, well-known Christian legal scholar Dr. Fan Yafeng planned to meet with a Spanish press reporter for dinner. He received a call earlier in the week, advising him not to attend the meeting with the foreign reporter. Refusing to be intimidated by the police, Dr. Fan made plans to attend anyway.

Before he could leave for the dinner on Saturday, Dr. Fan heard a knock on his door. The Beijing policemen confronted Dr. Fan with a notice charging him with allegedly "making noise," (due to his lack of cooperation with Chinese officials) and swiftly escorted him from his home. Two guards monitored Dr. Fan's wife in their home, as they detained him in a local police for over 9 hours to prevent his meeting with the reporter.

After his release, Dr. Fan spoke with a reporter from The Australian. "Why can't I speak out and say what I think?" he fumed. Dr. Fan further vowed, "If they stop me, I will sit to protest downstairs. If they arrest me, I will hunger-strike until they free me or I die."

This is the second time Dr. Fan yafeng has been specifically targeted by the Beijing PSB in the past six months. He was summarily dismissed from his senior researcher position at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences "for political reasons" in November, 2009. See the article from 11/03/2010. He has further been instrumental in the legal defense work for the highly sensitive Linfen Case in Shanxi, garnering him increased attention and harassment from Chinese authorities. (Visit www.HelpLinfen.com for more information on the Linfen Case.)

ChinaAid denounces this unjust treatment of Dr. Fan Yafeng by the Beijing authorities. We call on the international community to pray for the end of persecution of Christian faithfuls, and against those who continue to speak out on the abuses by the Chinese government.

To contact the Beijing authorities, address your concerns to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

The Chinese Ambassador
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn

This article references story "Chinese critics held as 'the people' meet," by Michael Sainsbury for The Australian, released March 8, 2010.

Chinese Land Official Says "Golden Lampstand Church will be destroyed"

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 5, 2010

SHANXI--A symbol of strength and unity for the 50,000-member Linfen Church Network, the central church building Jindengtai (Golden Lampstand) towers over the neighboring buildings in Linfen City. The building was confiscated by the Chinese government in the aftermath of the bloody attack and destruction of Fushan Church in September, 2009. Military police continue to surround the building around the clock, with soldiers stationed inside the building to prevent church members from gathering or entering. Now devastation is about to strike again.

On March 4, 2010, an official from the Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, in Linfen City, informed a ChinaAid contact that the "Golden Lampstand" Church will soon be destroyed by the Chinese government. The six-story Golden Lampstand Church (Jindengtai) is worth over 10 million Yuan ($1.5 million) and has been the central meeting location for Linfen Church members for more than a decade.

Military vehicles and soldier guard Jindengtai around the clock.

The tragic news is just one more blow by the Chinese Government. After the bloody crackdown on Fushan Church, subsequent arrests by military police resulted in the indictment and trials for five Linfen pastors, resulting in severe prison sentences. Five other Linfen pastors were sentenced to two years each Re-education through Labor. All ten pastors filed appeals in January 2010. In February, the Linfen Courts formally rejected the appeals of the five prisoners. The five sentenced to Re-education through labor still await news of their appeals.

Linfen Church members are now mobilizing for fervent prayer. They call on the churches around the globe to pray and have further asked ChinaAid to express their gratitude to the international community for the care, support, and intercessory prayers given in the past few months.

ChinaAid urges the international community to contact the local authorities and protest the destruction of Jindengtai. We call on believers around the world to pray for the end of persecution against the Linfen House Church, and the restoration of their property and buildings.

Call on the Chinese authorities to protest the government demolition of Golden Lampstand Church:

Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, Linfen City
Tel: +86-357-201-3263

Raodu District People's Government contact:
Tel: 86-357-222-8559
E-mail: info@yaodu.gov.cn

For more ways to get involved, visit www.HelpLinfen.com

See the latest articles on persecution against Linfen Church.

Four Shuozhou Pastors Released after Successful ChinaAid Campaign

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 5, 2010

SHANXI--Due to a successful legal defense and media campaign by ChinaAid, Pastors Jia Jun, Ren Baoqing and Lin Zhengyuan were allowed to finish filing their respective bailout applications on March 4th. Family members were allowed to bring them home from the detention center this morning, March 5th. As a face-saving measure by the PSB of Shuozhou City, Shanxi province, Pastor Ma Fei was arbitrarily sentenced to one year Re-education through Labor; however, the government will allow him to be bailed out of detention, once his case has been moved back to the Public Security jurisdiction of Shuozhou City. The four church leaders were accused of being members of an evil cult, and they were formally arrested and indicted for this charge in January, 2010. (See the CAA report from 1/28/2010).

Thanks to the legal intervention of the two Christian lawyers, Dr. Li Baiguang and Zhang Kai, the court and the prosecutors were persuaded that the charges had insufficient evidence; the court concluded that the arrested leaders were not members of an evil cult, but evangelical Christian faithfuls. The court then refused to try the leaders and had the case sent back to the prosecutors. Due to heightened international publicity and pressure exercised by ChinaAid's media campaign, the prosecution decided not to resubmit the case or press for further prosecution.

The Shanxi court's rejection of the Shuozhou Church case is a landmark victory for House Church Christians in China. Not only were officials forced to drop the charges, but evangelical Christians were vindicated for their faith, and affirmed as true believers. The court ruled they could not be tried as "evil cult" members, setting the precedent for future cases against Chinese Christians accused of this charge.

View the "Confession of Faith" issued by Shuozhou Word of Life Church members, and one member's personal testimony.

ChinaAid thanks the international community for their targeted support of Shuozhou Church members and for their faithful prayers. We thank the Chinese Legal Defenders who fought to uphold the truth in the Chinese courts. We also thank the Shanxi courts for upholding rule of law in their region, and urge all district and regional courts in China to follow their example.

Guangzhou Police Kidnap Pastor Wang Dao of Liangren Church

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 4, 2010

GUANGDONG--For more than two years, the Guangzhou police have harassed the house church believers of Liangren Church for their faith. In the boldest strike since last September, a mixed band of plain-clothed and uniformed PSB officers barged into the local restaurant at 3:20 PM on March 4, 2010, where Liangren Church Head Pastor Wang Dao was meeting with twelve brothers and sisters for a meal. According to eye-witnesses in the restaurant, the policemen threw Pastor Wang violently to the ground, without showing their ID badges or any official documentation. They seized Pastor Wang and rushed him outside to a waiting vehicle, shoving him into the back seat as they tore off down the street. Pastor Wang's whereabouts are still unknown, and no one has been able to contact him since his forced departure.

Pastor Wang Dao has weathered severe persecution with fellow believers in Guangzhou since the church was founded in 2005. In 2008, the government banned Liangren Church, indicting them for holding "illegal religious organizations." Pastor Dao filed several appeals against the government ban and persisted in holding meetings with believers despite two rejections, several delays on appeal decisions and numerous other official attempts to disband the church permanently. He was last interrogated for more than three hours on September 3, 2009, when officers questioned him about his involvement with the Chinese Christian Charter, a proclamation of faith signed and released on June 4, 2009, the 20th anniversary date of Tiananmen Square massacre. See the press release from September 21, 2009.

Pastor Wang Dao has been interrogated repeatedly by PSB officers looking for ways to discredit him and his faith. ChinaAid urges the Guangzhou PSB officials to release Wang Dao back to his family and end their unjust persecution of peaceful Liangren Church. We call on the international community to pray for his safe return.

Contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. to call on the authorities to immediately release and return Pastor Wang Dao to his family:

The Chinese Ambassador
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn

To learn more about the abuses, view past CAA reports about Pastor Wang and Liangren House Church:

"Statement of Indictment for Administrative Litigation" Filed by Wang Dao.

Haizhu District People's Court of Guangzhou Notification of Acceptance of Administrative Case.

Guangzhou House Church Pastor Wang Dao's Case Against Persecution Accepted by Court.

Liangren House Church Speaks Out About Raid.

An County Church Banned in Former Sichuan Earthquake Disaster Zone

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
March 3, 2010

SICHUAN--Made famous by the devastating Sichuan Earthquake of 2008, which leveled homes and killed thousands of Chinese citizens, An County is no stranger to disaster and repression. In the peaceful village of Hongshi in An County, faithful house church Christians have met in the home of pastor Gan Yonggui for fellowship and prayer for many years. House Church Christians were instrumental in providing care and comfort for fellow villagers, who lost children, parents, and relatives in the quake. In that time of crisis, the Chinese government seemed to soften on some controls, allowing a few faith organizations to provide relief. Just two years later, their goodwill toward the faithful seems to have dissipated entirely.

On February 8, 2010, officials from the Sichuan Bureau of Ethnicity and Religious Affairs came to the home of Pastor Gan Yonggui in Anxian. They issued a formal notice of administrative punishment, announcing their decision to ban the house church Christian fellowship meeting in his home.

Read the full translation of the Anxian Bureau of Ethnicity and Religious Affairs' Notice, issued February 8, 2010:

Anxian Bureau of Ethnicity and Religious Affairs
The Notice of Administrative Punishment Decision No. (2010) 1

February 8, 2010

Mr. Gan Yonggui of Anxian Jiashui Hongshi sizu,

We, along with the Anxian Bureau of Public Safety have investigated and found that you have illegally set up religious site to host religious activities at your house. In accordance with Article 43 of Regulations on Religious Affairs and Article 52, 53 of Regulations on Religious Affairs in Sichuan Province, we thereby made the decision of administrateive punishment to ban the religious site at your house and order to stop the religious activities. Should you not accept the decision, you may appeal for administrative reconsideration within 15 days after you receive this notice.

--Anxian Bureau of Ethnicity and Religious Affairs (Signed with Seal)

Pastor Gan Yonggui immediately appealed the decision on February 9, 2010. He has not yet heard back from the Anxian officials.

This latest ban on house church fellowship in Sichuan shows that the Chinese government has already forgotten the contributions of the faithful communities in recovering the stability of Sichuan and the nation.

ChinaAid urges the international community to pray for house church Christians in An County. We urge the An Xian (County) authorities to repeal the ban, to soften their hearts, and to allow the free expression of worship for all believers in their region, according to their basic human rights.

60 Henan Neixiang Christians Arrested, One Severely Injured

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 22, 2010

HENAN--For many women, a husband's profession is simply a means of support. For the wives of Chinese house church pastors, their husband's work can lead to devastating pain and physical suffering. For Chen Hailan, wife of Pastor Guo Quanyou, it meant broken vertebrae, a concussion, and paralyzing pain. On October 19, 2009, sixty Christians were holding a time of worship and fellowship at Pastor Guo Quanyou’s house in Neixiang. At about 10:00 AM, 18 local police besieged the house and arrested and interrogated the Christians. The police charged them with “disturbing social orders under the name of religious activities” and put five brothers into ten-days administrative detention each and imposed a fine of several thousand RMB.

Chen Hailan continues to suffer headaches and back pain from her injuries. Her husband Guo Quanyou was sentenced to one year Re-education through Labor (see document above).

On October 30th, the Neixiang police station increased the punishment of the church leader Guo Quanyou, enhancing his sentence to one year Re-education through Labor and a 2,000 RMB fine. When the police came to brother Guo's home to arrest him, they brutally pushed Guo’s wife Chen Hailan to the floor. The impact caused a concussion and broken her "12th vertebra”. Chen Hailan continues to suffer from severe migraines, and can barely move her back from the pain.

China Aid condemns this attack on the innocent Neixiang Christians, and demands to know how a peaceful Christian gathering in a home can "disturb the social order." We urge the Neixiang police to release Guo Quanyou, who is still being held, and to redress the fines and physical grievances against the Guo family.

We call on the international community to pray for the house church in Neixiang, Henan province, and for the release and healing of Guo Quanyou and his wife Chen Hailan.

Shuozhou Word of Life Church Member Gives Personal Testimony

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

SHANXI--Members of Shuozhou Church have suffered uncertainty since 500 members were detained at a church gathering, and six members were criminally detained in November, 2009. Head pastor Gao Mao's home was further ransacked and razed to the ground on November 20th, with the officials immediately planting trees on the property to hide the damage. (See the CAA report). In faith members have spoken out, as the case undergoes a review by the court has now been returned to the public security office who first submitted their case for further evidence. Following the church's poignant Confession of Faith, released on February 8, 2010, one faithful woman in the church speaks on behalf of her fellow persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ:

My Life Experience at Word of Life Church

February 19, 2010

My name is Wei Lude; I am 42. In 1986, the Word of Life Church shared the Gospel with my parents, and since then, they determined to dedicate their lives to the Lord and have opened their house to serve the church members. In 1987, they shared the good news with me. I went through a seminar for a few days, which was about sins, judgment, and the salvation through Christ. After that, I realized that I was a sinner and believed that Jesus Christ is my personal savior. I was certain about my salvation and I tasted peace and joy.

In 1987, police in north Shanxi area massively arrested Christians; many brothers and sisters of the Word of Life Church got arrested. They were caught at home and sentenced to re-education through labor. Hence, many theology training and fellowship places became hidden, but the number of church members kept increasing. In 1989, I joined one of the theology training seminars. Based on the Bible it summarized seven main points: 1) The salvation through the Cross, which used the book “Sheng Ji He Can” as reference and talked about the life of Christ and the works of God Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; 2) The way to the Cross; 3) Recognize the adulteresses, which is to understand the mistakes of the Three-Self churches; 4) Establish churches; 5) Connection of the body; 6) Providing information; 7) Missions. After a few months, I had a systematic understanding of the truth in the Bible.

Praise the Lord, the Word of Life Church nurtured me in spirit and for 20 years I have grown while serving others. In recent years, the church survives under the persecutions from the Chinese government. Despite of the harsh circumstance, the church brothers and sisters spread the seed of the Gospel all around China. On November 18^th 2009, five brothers of the church were arrested on the charge of involving cult. Thereby, I earnestly ask brothers and sisters to pray for the five brothers, and also pray for the repentance of the police in Shanxi.

~Wei Lude

Click here for a PDF version of Wei Lude's Testimony, and for Shuozhou Word of Life Church's Confession of Faith.

Obama Meeting with Dalai Lama Brings Hope for Stronger Human Rights Stance

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 19, 2010

CHINAAID--On behalf of human rights defenders around the world, ChinaAid welcomes the positive exchange between the Dalai Lama and President Barack Obama on February 18, 2010. After the President refused to accept a meeting with the Tibetan religious leader last year, many of us worried that this indicated the Administration's apathy toward human rights and religious freedom. In the past we have seen a softer side to the President's pragmatic stance on international policy, but yesterday's meeting and recent events defending internet freedom and other security issues have shown a new trend in U.S. policy towards human rights in China.

With this new effort to establish human rights and religious freedom as a common goal between the United States and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, we are hopeful for a continued strong stance in support of human rights in China. This meeting sends a signal to the Chinese government, that in spite of economic concerns, the United States will stand firm in our founding principles, including the basic human right to religious freedom.

We thank President Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Clinton for their willingness to meet with the Dalai Lama, and to affirm the long-standing tradition of human rights held by these United States of America.
To reinforce the sincerity of the support for religious freedom, we urge the Obama Administration to fill the Ambassador-at-large position in the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom as soon as possible, and to bolster the department's efforts to preserve the basic rights to religious freedom for Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims, Protestant and Catholic Christians, and other religious minorities in China and around the world. By embracing our role, we can continue to be a beacon of freedom to the persecuted.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited.Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.

Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers Calls on China to Reinstate Licenses

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 22, 2010

NEW YORK--On February 17, 2010, the Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers from the Leitner Center at Fordham Law School issued a follow-up letter to China's Minister of Justice Wu Aiying, calling for the re-examination of several Beijing lawyers' licenses, which were suspended or refused renewal back in April-May 2009. Click here for a PDF version or read the full text below:

COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT CHINESE LAWYERS: Letter to Minister of Justice Wu Aiying

Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China
Minister Wu Aiying
No. 10, Nandajie, Chaoyangmen
Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Postal Code: 100020
Tel: +86 (101) 65205144
Fax: +86 (010) 84772883
Via Email: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn

February 17, 2010
Re: Non-Renewal of Lawyers’ Licenses

Dear Madame,

We refer to our May 29, 2009 letter to you regarding lawyers in Beijing who have lost their licenses to practice law, and therefore their means of livelihood, because they represent clients who are unpopular
with the authorities, or because of their bar association activities and rights defense advocacy. As lawyers interested in supporting the work and independence of our Chinese colleagues, we expressed
our concern and asked you to help ensure that no Beijing lawyer would lose his or her license to practice law for such reasons.

Sadly, we continue to hear reports that the following Beijing lawyers have not had their licenses renewed for these reasons, including:
Zhang Lihui
Yang Huiwen
Tang Jitian
Liu Wei
Jiang Tianyong
Tong Zhaoping
Wen Haibo
Li Jinsong

We understand that several of these lawyers have gone repeatedly to both the Beijing Lawyers Association and the Beijing Judicial Bureau, seeking the renewal of their licenses. Not only have their licenses not been renewed, they have also been unable to obtain any information as to the reasons why. Also disturbing to us are reports that these lawyers have been harassed and intimidated in the process of trying to renew their licenses. For example, we understand that several lawyers went to the Beijing Judicial Bureau on December 30, 2009 to ask for their licenses; after registering their names, public security barred them from entering the Bureau’s offices. It was only after they complained to the police that they were able to speak to a member of the Bureau’s staff.

As we have said before, the failure to renew lawyers’ licenses to practice because the clients they represent are unpopular with the authorities, or because such lawyers speak out about rights defense and bar association governance, is contrary to the rule of law and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which China supports, including Articles 14 and 23 of the Basic Principles. It is also contrary to Chinese law, including Article 46, Section 1 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Lawyers (stating that lawyers associations should “safeguard the practice of law by lawyers, and protect the legal rights and interests of lawyers”), and the guaranties of free association and free speech enshrined in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (adopted and in effect Dec. 4, 1982, amended by the National People’s Congress on March 14, 2004, Article 35).

The Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers is a group of independent lawyers from outside China whose goal is to support lawyers in China in their quest to strengthen the rule of law there. The Committee, which is housed at the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School in New York City, seeks to strengthen the role of Chinese lawyers and to promote their independence. We know that you share these objectives. We respectfully request, again, that you investigate why these lawyers’ licenses to practice have not been renewed. If our information as to why license renewal has been withheld is correct, we then ask that you intercede on their behalf to secure renewal of their licenses. We also respectfully request that your office respond to this letter and the lawyers’ request for information regarding the denial of their licenses to practice. It is only when lawyers are able to represent clients without fear of reprisal, and to speak freely about professional concerns and rights defense, that the rule of law can gain a secure foothold.

Thank you for your attention.

Very truly yours,

Robert N. Hornick, Chair
Martin S. Flaherty, Vice Chair
R. Scott Greathead, Vice Chair

cc: Zhang Xuebing, President, Beijing Lawyers Association
Dong Chunjiang, Deputy Director, Beijing Judicial Bureau
The Hon. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to China
His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States of
America
Michael H. Posner, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, United States State Department

Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers | www.csclawyers.org
Leitner Center for International Law and Justice | Fordham Law School
33 West 60TH Street, Second Floor, New York, NY 10023

See the original release posted on CSCL's website, 2/18/2010: http://www.csclawyers.org/

Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers
© copyrights 2009, All rights reserved.

Dispelling the Lies: ChinaAid Calls for the Truth about Gao Zhisheng

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 16, 2010
Last Updated: 2/18/2010

CHINAAID--"This is nonsense!" Gao's wife Geng He furiously refuted the rumor which first broke out on February 12, 2010. In response to the San Francisco-based think tank Dui Hua Foundation's request for information about Gao Zhisheng, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. said that Gao Zhisheng was alive, working happily in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, more than 1,800 km from Beijing. Around the same time, a Chinese informant then posted photos of Gao Zhisheng online in a Chinese report, claiming he worked in the same company as Gao Zhisheng. He said that Gao was a talkative, even funny man, who had allegedly become a successful operational manager, talking about his wife and family and even "whistling a happy tune" daily.

On February 14th, the story broke to western media, leading to speculation as to whether the reports were valid. One American legal expert Chinese government's disclosure a "step in the right direction," but has called the Chinese government's treatment of Gao's case highly irregular. Gao's wife, Geng He has denounced the claim as false, greatly frustrated by the lack of communication and deception. "I am in America now. I have no contact with Gao." Neither she nor Gao's brother or sister have been able to contact him, much less acquire "useful information" about his whereabouts and condition.

Read Geng He's Statement, in English and Chinese, released on February 17, 2010.

On February 15th, China Free Press agency Canyu released an article exposing the fake photos and highlighting an interview with Geng He. Tell-tale marks of tampering in the photos include the discrepancy of the time of year, based on Gao wearing a summer shirt while sitting beside a Uyghur man in a winter jacket, as well as striking similarities between the images allegedly taken of Gao very recently, and a set of photos taken before his arrest and torture in 2007. (See the Canyu report)

President of ChinaAid Bob Fu anticipates a more sinister angle to the false reports: "With no evidence to suggest otherwise, this appears to be a ploy by the Chinese government to confuse people and cover up the truth. By telling reporters and advocacy organizations that Gao is in Xinjiang, it will keep them from hunting around Beijing for answers. The Chinese government is just playing games now."

There has also been evidence to suggest that Gao's wife and children continue to be held under close surveillance by the Chinese spy network while living in the United States. In the Chinese informant's report, he referred to Gao's son accidentally eating a pesticide pallet, and becoming ill. No reports of the event had been recorded prior to that, and Geng He herself only mentioned it in a phone call conversation some months ago. Other details of Gao's daughter's recent hospitalization and emotional troubles indicate the informant had access to inside information, which could only be obtained by close monitoring of the family.

The Gao family is not alone. One recent report, released on February 9, 2010, used the stated number of informants in Kailu County, Inner Mongolia, to estimate the number of Chinese spies at nearly 3% of the Chinese population, a low estimate considering other regions like Xinjiang and Beijing have higher security threats. It has been a stated goal of the Chinese government to use punishment as a preventative measure, relying on paid and unpaid informants to provide timely inside information to preserve stability. (See the report at Telegraph.co.uk).

For the Gao family, the danger is very real. Gao Zhisheng has still made no personal contact with them, and the Chinese government continues to withhold verifiable information about his condition and whereabouts.

ChinaAid urges you to act now. Call on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to press the Chinese government for the truth. Urge your U.S. Congressman or local representative to denounce the punishment of those who disagree with the Chinese government.

We question the motives of the Chinese government, and urge them to contact Gao's family directly and to make his information public. We call on the Chinese government to disclose verifiable information about Gao Zhisheng, and to cease the intentional misdirection of those who seek the truth.

For more ways to get involved, visit www.FreeGao.com

American Bar Association Petitions State Department for Chinese Rule of Law

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 12, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Jiang Tianyong’s visit to the United States last October, the Chinese human rights attorney and others urged U.S. officials to meet with human rights lawyers in Beijing, The Chinese legal association had refused to renew Jiang’s license to practice law in the spring of 2009, because had had taken on “highly sensitive cases.” Unable to practice, he was fired from his firm, causing his family’s well-being to suffer. The day after he returned to China from his trip to the U.S, he and four other legal advocates attempted to meet with the U.S. Ambassador in Beijing, but with no success, The next day he was shoved into a police car, his wife beaten before their daughter’s eyes, and detained for over 12 hours.

Cases like Jiang Tianyong’s have rapidly increased in number and severity. Chinese lawyers who specifically defend religious or ethnic minority groups are given disproportionate wages, fired or fined, have their families placed under surveillance, or find their licenses terminated. In more severe cases, lawyers have been tortured. Gao Zhisheng, one of the most prominent Chinese attorneys and two-time Nobel Peace prize nominee, sustained 53 days of brutal torture in 2007, and has been missing without no account for over one year, as of February 4, 2010.

Concerned by these gross violations of rule of law in China, President of the American Bar Association Carolyn Lamm directed a poignant letter to U.S. Secretary Clinton, in December, 2009. The letter cites the four specific cases of well-known Chinese human rights defenders Gao Zhisheng, Jiang Tianyong, Li Suibin, and Xu Zhiyong, and calls on the U.S. Government to urge the Chinese government to “demonstrate its commitment to rule of law principles,” by halting the arbitrary practice of denying legal licenses and to value the role of human rights lawyers in maintaining national stability and preserving the peace.

Read the full ABA Rule of Law letter to Secretary Clinton, sent December 22, 2009.

Though members of Congress and the U.S. Department of State have made previous efforts to inquire about the treatment and conditions of human rights lawyers in China, this is the first bold step an American legal association has made on behalf of Chinese human rights in several years.

“We applaud the efforts of the American Bar Association for their willingness to confront human rights abuses against their Chinese professional colleagues,” said Bob Fu, President of ChinaAid. “They have demonstrated that they resonate with the need for rule of law worldwide."

Bob Fu was recently able to meet with a representative of the American Bar Association, and was greatly encouraged by the ABA's commitment to raising concern for their fellow compatriots.

ChinaAid remains committed to enhancing the dialogue concerning rule of law in the Chinese legal system, and will continue to seek opportunities for international legal scholars and professionals from China and around the world to meet.

Bipartisan Support for Chinese Human Rights Comes the Week of the Presidential Prayer Breakfast

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 9, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.--"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (NIV) The context for this passage in Matthew 18 speaks to methods of dealing with conflict among members of the church. It shows how to build the body of Christ by working together and holding one another accountable, through gathering and relying on one another. Last week, in the heart of the U.S. capital, a city renowned for its political heat and confrontation, nearly 3000 political, military, spiritual leaders and pastors from over 80 countries and across the United States including President Obama and the first lady, vice-president Joe Biden, Secretary Hilary Clinton and congressional leaders, gathered together for the Presidential (National ) Prayer Breakfast on February 4th.

Each leader carried heavy concerns on their heart and a diverse array of backgrounds and opinions, but these few hours gave them opportunity to stand together to break bread and live the spirit of Matthew 18:20. Embracing the opportunity for truth and fellowship, President of ChinaAid Bob Fu attended the event, and with the help of ChinaAid staff and contacts, brought heavy spiritual and humanitarian concerns on behalf of the Chinese people to the country's leaders.

In recent months, ChinaAid has focused on several urgent cases of Christian persecution, including the 15-year sentencing and deprivation of political rights for Uyghur Christian Alimujiang, the destruction of Fushan Church in Shanxi and the following arrests of 10 Linfen Church leaders, and more recent cases of persecution, including the unjust detention of six pastors in Shuozhou city, Shanxi, and the bans on Shouwang and Wanbang house churches, forcing congregations 1000-strong to meet outdoors in snowstorms.

February 4, 2010 also marked the one-year anniversary of the Gao Zhisheng's forced disappearance. Gao became an international champion of human rights in China, having defended persecuted religious minority groups like Falun Gong members and House Church Christians, even earning him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. After suffering severe torture at the hands of the Chinese government for defending a Falun Gong case, Gao Zhisheng exposed the truth to the world--resulting in his abduction by twelve Chinese police officers on February 4, 2009. He has not been seen since.

In answer to many supporters' prayers, more American leaders heard the truth about these Chinese human rights violations last week.

In addition to meetings with leaders from international organizations, Bob Fu met with more than eight influential US governmental leaders, including Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, Rep. Jim McDermott, Rep. Sandy Levin, Rep. Randy Forbes, and Rep. Chris Smith, sharing the stories of persecution and raising awareness. The specific cases of Gao Zhisheng and Alimujiang Yimiti struck a deep chord with several of the leaders, who were open to taking more actions on their behalf.

On Friday, ChinaAid released its Annual Persecution Report 2009, outlining 77 cases of persecution and describing new trends and tactics unleashed by the Chinese government against its religious minorities. The Report is available online and will be personally distributed to contacts on the Hill who have expressed their concern for religious liberty and human rights.

ChinaAid is grateful for the support and prayers of the international community on behalf of the persecuted in China. With your support, the hearts and minds of many national leaders have opened to the truth. As ChinaAid embarks on a renewed mission to bring the message and raise awareness overseas in these next few months, we encourage you to pray for the safe journeys and advocacy efforts of these ambassadors for human rights.

Persecuted Shuozhou Church Releases Confession of Faith

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 8, 2010

SHANXI--In the aftermath following the detention of six Shuozhou pastors and the destruction of Brother Gao Mao's home, members of Shuozhou have issued a Confession of Faith, affirming their doctrine and taking a stand in defense of their faith. (See the latest report on the attacks, from 1/28/10.) Click here for a PDF version, or read the full text below.

Confession of Faith
--Word of Life Christian House Church

Introduction:

I believe in God, Father Almighty, Creator of heavens and the earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, given birth through Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried, was descended into the Death, and the third day risen from the dead; He ascended into the Heaven, seated at the right hand of Father Almighty, and will come back from there to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen!

1. Our belief

Based on the revelations of the Bible, we believe God created the heaven and earth and all the creatures (including humans). The first man God had created sinned; and his sin is inherited by all his descendants. God let His only son Jesus Christ died on the cross to be the redemption of the sinners. Those who believe in Him and His resurrection will not be judged and will enter into the eternal life. The Bible is the only authoritative standard. We carry on religious activities according to the Bible, e.g. fellowship, prayer, sharing, and baptism. We discipline our acts based on the teach of the Bible; our belief is consistent with the authentic Christian beliefs. We are not heresy or cult and our belief is not antisocial or antihuman; instead, we provide a foundation of harmonious social morality, which benefits the nation and the society. It can be witnessed in the churches and the community they live in that Christians are good citizens.

2. Our Understandings of the Government

2.1. We love the Lord, the people, and the churches; we love our own country and we support to maintain the unity of the nation and the harmonious relationship between different ethnicities.

2.2. We obey the Constitutions and the People’s government authorities; they are authorized by God in China.

2.3. We never act disobediently although we have always been misunderstood and persecuted by the government.

2.4. We never act against the nation or the people; we do everything to help others.

3. Why We Refuse to Join in the “Three-Self” Church

3.1. Different heads: the head of the “Three-Self” church is the government; they administrate the church based on religion policies. The head of the house church is Jesus Christ; we administrate the church in accordance to the Bible.

3.2. Different ways of appointing the clergies: The clergies of the “three-self” churches are appointed by the bureau of religious affairs; the house churches select clergies who are anointed by the Holy Spirit, equipped with the truth and spiritual gifts, recognized by the churches and bear spiritual fruits.

3.3. Different foundations: The three-self church is the product of the three-self revolution, which was initiated by Wu Yaozong, a social-evangelist and a few non-Christians.

3.4. Division of Opinions: The three-self church supports the unification of the government and the church; they choose to make compromise with the government’s policies on religions and participate in political movements. The house church, however, support the division of the government the church; they obey the government under the biblical principles. When the two conflicts, they choose to “obey God not men” and take up the Cross to follow God, regardless of the cost.

3.5. Different Missions: The three-self churches limit themselves to hold religious activities only at the registered churches. The house churches share the Gospel and nurture church members in diligence; they strive and develop in hardship.

4. Our Relationship with the Total Scope Church

Before November 18^th 2009, we had not heard of “Total Scope Church”. Later when we registered to become religious citizens, we heard the name and found out that the “Total Scope Church” is officially recognized as cult. Our official name is “Word of Life Christian House Church”; we don’t approve other denominative names that are given by

Annual Persecution Report 2009: ChinaAid Releases Summary and Analysis of Christian Persecution

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 5, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Today, ChinaAid released its Annual 2009 Persecution Report, covering Christian persecution, specifically of House Churches, in China. After careful analysis of the 77 reported cases of persecution of House Church and Three-Self Christians in China, results indicates 19% overall increase in persecution in comparison with the data from 2008. This marks a total increase in persecution levels of 120% within the last two years. The report summarizes the data based on ChinaAid's investigative reporting through inside sources from teh year 2009, and offers both theoretical and diagram models to illustrate Christian persecution trends.

Click here to read the full Annual Report by the Government on Christian House Churches within Mainland China, January 2009 - December 2009.

The Annual Persecution Report contains a Foreword, Appendix and five main parts: 1) Introduction to International and Chinese contexts; 2) Review and Summary of Persecution in 2009; 3) List of Persecution Cases in Charts; 4) Diagrams Illustrating the Level of Persecution; and 5) Epilogue: A Sociological Approach and Speculative Analysis.

The Introduction to International and Chinese contexts outlines the influences of economics, politics, and social changes that shape and influence the persecution trends. It takes into account the global financial crisis, the shifting international order, and even the election of President Barack Obama affecting U.S.-Sino relations.

The Review and Summary and List of Persecution Case Charts describe the 77 cases reported by ChinaAid last year. They are grouped according to five types of persecution: 1) against House Church Leaders; 2) Against the House Church Movement in urban areas; 3) Forcing churches to quit worship meetings; 4) Severe punishment of long-term imprisonment and heavy fines; and 5) Tighter control of the Three-Self Church. The Charts indicate the cases of persecution, according to province; they provide basic details including the number of people involved, name of church and location, and a description of the case. Links to detailed reports are provided for additional information.

In the epilogue, ChinaAid analysts note the historical path of Chinese society from the feudal-model to a citizenship model. As China develops economically and politically, the Chinese people have begun to integrate the western concept of citizenry into their social understanding, altering the communal understanding of religious practices and faith preferences. It is amid this broader social change that the House Church Movement has grown dynamically and thrived.

ChinaAid analysts further introduce a new theoretical model in understanding church persecution trends in China. The tri-colored market model describes various stages of church growth and status in society. Churches and religious groups are categorized as being in the red market (officially and legitimately approved by the Chinese Communist government), the black market (officially banned or illegal), and the gray market (ambiguous legal status). The Epilogue expounds upon the application of the model as it relates to the data collected and summarized in the preceding sections.

ChinaAid thanks our contributors and sources for their willingness to expose the truth about persecution in China. We pray for the persecuted daily, and continue to call on the Chinese government to cease their repressive actions, and guarantee the religious freedom of its people.

ChinaAid Issues Joint Statement Commending Freedom Now for Petitioning the UN for Gao Zhisheng

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 4, 2010: Visit FreeGao.com to Sign the Petition to Free Gao and get involved

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, on the one-year anniversary of Gao’s disappearance, Freedom Now partnered with international human rights specialists Jerome A. Cohen, Irwin Cotler MP, David Matas, and David Kilgour to file a petition with the UN Working Group on Involuntary Disappearances.

The petition informs the UN Working Group of the violations of Criminal Procedure in Gao’s case and requests immediate assistance from the UN in ascertaining the whereabouts and condition of Gao Zhisheng. (See Freedom Now’s petition and press release.)

Faith-based human rights organizations Advocates International, China Aid Association, and Jubilee Campaign praise Freedom Now, in a joint statement, for taking Gao’s case to the UN.

“Freedom Now's long track record of successful interventions filed with the United Nations ensures that the international community will remain relentless in securing Mr. Gao's release,” Executive Director of Jubilee Campaign Ann Buwalda remarked.

Advocates International’s General Counsel Sam B. Casey weighed in on the legal contradictions the Chinese government presents by denying Gao Zhisheng his civil rights in court, while President of ChinaAid Bob Fu called the withheld information, false reports and vague commentary by the Chinese government on Gao’s condition and whereabouts “indefensible and unacceptable.”

Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was seized by a dozen police officers and last seen in public on February 4, 2009. He has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for defending the persecuted. He has been an unyielding and iconic advocate for justice in the Chinese courts and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his excellent human rights work.

Rumors of Gao Zhisheng’s death have circulated since December 2009, later disputed by reports of Gao going “missing” from Chinese police custody. On January 21^st, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu vaguely acknowledged Gao was “where he should be,” but yesterday commented that he did not know where Gao Zhisheng was. “China has 1.3 billion people and I can’t know all of their whereabouts.”

Yet where the Chinese government has back-tracked, others have stepped forward. This week, a bipartisan group of seven U.S. Congressmen stood in solidarity with human rights defenders, nominating Gao Zhisheng, along with Attorney Chen Guangchen and political activist Liu Xiaobo for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. (See Rep. Smith’s press release, 2010-02-02)

Advocates, ChinaAid, and Jubilee thank the seven U.S. Congressmen for their honoring Gao Zhisheng with the Nobel nomination. We call on the Chinese government to cease the persecution of Gao Zhisheng and to guarantee his basic human rights and civil liberties according to the law.

Click here to read the full Joint Statement by Advocates International, China Aid Association, and Jubilee Campaign, issued February 4, 2010.

For more information about Gao Zhisheng and ways to get involved in his campaign, visit www.FreeGao.com

Where is Gao Zhisheng? Human Rights Lawyer Missing for Over One Year

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
February 4, 2010

China Aid Association's Free Gao Campaign e-mail:

February 4^th—365 Days of Torture

Last year, Gao Zhisheng was a world-renowned Chinese Christian attorney, a champion of human rights and equality before the law.

Last year, Gao Zhisheng was a Nobel Peace Prize 2008 nominee, a hero of the Chinese people.

Last year, Gao Zhisheng fought for freedom for religious minorities, risking everything to defend the persecuted.

Last year, Gao Zhisheng shared the truth of his torture at the hands of the Chinese government.

Last year, Gao Zhisheng could see, hear, and touch his family, loving them with faith and courage.

Then Last year, on February 4^th, 2009, everything changed.

Today, Gao Zhisheng is denied the basic human rights he fought for every day on behalf of his fellow countrymen.

Today, Gao Zhisheng is hidden from the world by the Chinese government, masked by a shroud of secrecy and doubt.

Today, Gao’s wife and children face devastating separation, suffering from the pain of loss and uncertainty.

Today, Gao suffers silent torture, never knowing if he will see his loved ones again.

Today, is the day to make the truth known.

Today, on February 4, 2010, we refuse to let Gao Zhisheng be forgotten, and we challenge the Chinese government to answer our cry: “Where is Gao Zhisheng?”

--------------------------------

On the one year anniversary of Gao’s forced disappearance, ChinaAid calls again on the international community to raise their voices to Free Gao Zhisheng.

To increase awareness, we have launched the Free Gao 24-hour Ad campaign. Visit www.Drudgereport.com today to see the ads and tell others about the campaign. We give special thanks to those who have generously donated to help support this new ad-campaign, which will reach more than 2 million new viewers in the United States and around the world.

If you have not yet made a contribution and would like to get involved, please consider donating to help Free Gao today. We thank you for making our campaign efforts possible.

New Steps to Action:

ChinaAid thanks the more than 126,200 people who have signed the petition, the thousands of supporters who sent 469,500 e-mail inquiries to Chinese businesses and government offices, the 11,202 individuals who contacted their U.S. Representatives, and the countless others who faxed and called the Chinese Embassy for Gao’s release in 2009.

In the coming months, we will be taking Free Gao campaign to the next level, calling on the United Nations and the European Union to defend human rights in China, and intercede on behalf of Gao Zhisheng.

Visit www.FreeGao.com to Sign the Petition, Contact your leaders, and discover new ways to get involved today.

Enter FreeGao.com

For permission to reproduce photos and/or information use in this release, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Latest News Reports on Gao Zhisheng

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Last Updated: 2/16/2010

From Beijing to Washington, citizens around the world are asking, "Where is Gao Zhisheng?" News agencies have kept pressing for more on the story of Gao Zhisheng. See the latest headlines.

2/14/2010--RIGHTS GROUP SAYS MISSING CHINESE LAWYER IN URUMQI. Read the article by AP's Scott McDonald.

2/12/2010--DUI HUA FOUNDATION'S STATEMENT ABOUT GAO ZHISHENG. Read the statement posted by the President of Dui Hua on Gao Zhisheng working in Urumqi.

2/12/2010--CHINA, CANADA, THE OLYMPICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. Read the article posted by Canada Free Press about Gao Zhisheng and the Canadian position on Chinese Human Rights.

2/04/2010--ONE YEAR LATER: CHINA STILL MUM ON MISSING LAWYER. Read the article posted on The Christian Science Monitor.

2/03/2010--U.S. CONGRESSMEN NOMINATE GAO ZHISHENG FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. See the press release by Rep. Chris Smith's office.

2/02/2010--"China's Defiance Stirs Fear for Missing Dissident." Read the report by Andrew Jacobs for the New York Times.

1/31/2010--"FIND GAO ZHISHENG": Visit China Human rights Lawyer Concern Group's site for more details, and check out their campaign on Facebook.

1/29/2010--"KEEPING AN EYE ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN CHINA." ChinaAid Director of Advocacy Jennifer McCloy is interviewed about Gao Zhisheng. Hear the CWA Radio Broadcast.

1/22/2010--COMMENT BY CHINA ADDS TO MYSTERY OF MISSING LAWYER. Read the article by Edward Wong for the NYTimes.

1/22/2010--CHINA SAYS MISSING LAWYER 'IS WHERE HE SHOULD BE.' Read the article by AP Beijing.

1/15/2010--HAS BRAVE GAO ZHISHENG BEEN "DISAPPEARED?" Read the blog post and commentary on Banyan's Notebook, by The Economist's Asian Politics author.

1/14/2010--GAO ZHISHENG FEARED DEAD, POLICE OFFICER SAYS HE WENT MISSING "ON A WALK." Read the AP Report.

Gulinuer, Wife of Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti, Petitions for Prayer

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
January 31, 2010
Last Updated: 2/02/2010

XINJIANG--On January 18, 2010, Gulinuer issued a call to Christians around the world to pray for her husband, Uyghur Christian-convert Alimujiang Yimiti. In a recorded video message, Guli shares her determination and persistence in her faith, despite the persecution against Alim and their family. The video was first posted on January 28, 2010, but within 24-hours, had been blocked by Chinese censors on more that 10 different websites.

Watch Gulinuer's inspiring appeal here, and click here to read the full text of Guli's Petition for Prayer.

Send an e-mail of encouragement to Gulinuer and her family,

Alimujiang Yimiti was issued a notice In September 2007 by the Kashgar, Xinjiang Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, accusing him of spreading Christianity in the Kashgar area. On January 11, 2008, he was arrested by Kashgar Public Security officers. He remained incarcerated with no verdict for almost two years. On November 25, 2009, the Kashgar Intermediate Court harshly convicted him on the fabricated charge of "illegally providing state secrets to overseas organizations" and giving him the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and 5 years deprivation of his political rights. The verdict was stamped August 6, 2009, but was not received by Alim's lawyer Li Dunyong until December 7th.

On January 10th, Attorney Li Baiguang filed Alimujiang's appeal to the regional and national courts, calling for a re-evalution of the case, and denouncing the procedural violations of the court proceedings. See the latest press release.

Alimujiang was illegally detained in prison without a verdict for over one year between his case trial in May 2008 and the announcement of his verdict in July, 2009. He was tried and convicted on the charges of "illegally providing state secrets to foreigners." Alimujiang's defense lawyer, Li Dunyong, did not receive a copy of the verdict until December 7, 2009. ChinaAid was able to obtain a copy of both the Indictment and the Verdict papers of Alimujiang's trial from a sympathetic inside source in December and early January, 2010. See a summary of the Alimujiang's Case, issued by ChinaAid on December 23, 2009.

Through it all, Gulinuer has thrived in her faith and persevered. When she first heard about Alim’s severe sentence, Guli responded, "I am no longer thinking about this from a human perspective: Our Heavenly Father must have his perfect will in it."

Gulinuer has remained an active and well-respected leader in the small Christian community within the Uyghur society of Kashgar, and even in the midst of her trials, she encourages and comforts others.

She thanks her husband’s supporters for their prayers. In her petition, she points to two specific scripture passages that have seen her through these dark times, Romans 5:2-5 and Matthew 7:13-14. Despite the persecution of her family, since her conversion to Christianity, she has “always felt, or could even say have been slightly blinded by, a life of happiness, harmony, and love in the presence of the Lord.”

She urges her fellow Christian brothers and sisters to continue to “offer up your most fervent prayers and move the hand of God to change this present situation.”

ChinaAid blesses Gulinuer for her faithfulness and strength and echoes her call to prayer. We encourage you to send a message of support to Gulinuer and Alimujiang's family at Gulinuer199@gmail.com.

We further urge the Chinese authorities to review the details of Alimujiang's case and release this innocent man in accordance with the law.

To encourage Gulinuer and her family, send a message to Gulinuer199@gmail.com; or write to Alimujiang Yimiti in prison:
Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti
Detention Center (Kan Shou Suo)
Ka Shi, Xinjiang,
844000
P. R. China

Shuozhou Pastor's Home Destroyed; 6 Christian Leaders Detained

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid

January 28, 2010

SHANXI--On November 17, 2009, nearly 600 Christian brothers and sisters gathered together in Yangshupo Village in Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province. In the afternoon of November 18th, armed police guards arrived at the gathering site and besieged the group. The police detained all 500 house church attenders on the site for several hours, before arresting Ren Boqing, Jia Jun and Gao Wenjun, church members who drove vans to help bring many of the Christians to the church meeting.

Ren Boqing and Jia Jun were both charged with criminal detention for 'evil cult involvement,' a typical sentence for house church believers on November 19th; Gao Wenjun was arrested, but released on bail soon after, and is now awaiting news of criminal trial. Two locals, Ma Fei and Lin Zhengyuan, were additionally arrested on November 19, 2009, and have been criminally detained since for allegedly "participating in a cult."

Brother Gao Mao, the group leader, was seized and immediately placed in criminal detention at the Detention Center of Pinglu District in Shuozhou. On November 20th, more than 400 police ransacked Mao's home, stealing both valuables and daily necessities, such as blankets, food, oil, and removing Bibles and Hymnals from the site. They destroyed his entire property during the raid, inflicting close to 1.4 million RMB in damages and loss. In an attempt to cover-up the utter destruction of Gao's home, the police immediately planted trees among the debris on the ground to conceal their tracks.

Already in a fragile state from her severe heart disease, Lin Zhengyuan’s wife deteriorated rapidly in health after she heard that her husband had been arrested. Both Ma Fei and Gao Mao’s wives each suffer from diabetes and other related illnesses. Their husbands' arrests were a heavy blow against them, both physically and spiritually.

On December 18, 2009, the police contacted the families of Ma Fei, Lin Zhengyuan, Jia Jun, and Ren Baoqing, and issued formal notices of arrest. Brother Gao Mao has not yet received a notice of arrest, though he did receive a criminal detention paper. All five men were originally detained at the Shuocheng District Detention Center in Shuozhou City, and then moved to the Chengqu Detention Center after receiving formal Notices of Arrest.

See the Notices of Criminal Detention and Arrest for Jia Jun, Lin Zhengyuan, Ma Fei, and Ren Baoqing.

After learning of the case in mid-January, 2010, human rights attorneys Li Baiguang (of the Beijing Gongxin Law Firm) and Zhang Kai (of the Beijing Yijia Law Firm) agreed to take on the Shuozhou case, and represent the four formally charged leaders in court. Both attorneys are also currently leading the defense for two other high profile cases: Li Baiguang is heading up the appeal for Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti; Zhang Kai represented pastor Zhang Huamei in the Linfen Case trial in November, 2009, and continues to advocate on her behalf for the case appeal.

ChinaAid urges the international community to pray for the persecuted leaders in Shuozhou and for Christians all over Shanxi. This region known as the "Liberation Zone" has been under multiple attacks since the devastating attack on Fushan Church in September, 2009.

(For more information about the Linfen Case Trial, visit www.HelpLinfen.com; see the latest breaking news report on Alimujiang Yimiti.)

2009 Annual Report: Top Ten Cases of Christian Persecution in China

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
January 19, 2010

CHINAAID--The year 2009 showed Chinese Christian churches thriving in the midst of persecution. In a society where economic booming and innovation are in great demand, the Chinese government and the house churches continue wrestling with each other and drawing attention from all over the world. Nevertheless, the faithful persecuted in China believe God’s love and grace will always strengthen their churches.

China Aid Association, headquartered in Texas, reported a large quantity of cases concerning the persecution of Chinese house churches in 2009. After holistic review and analysis of these cases, we selected ten cases representative of the nature of persecution in the country, and hereby introduce them to the public. Among these globally recognized persecution cases, five are specifically church-related; four involve the persecution of individual faith practitioners; and one involves the persecution of Christians who rescued refugees out of their commitment to Biblical principles.

Click here for the Full PDF version of the "Top 10 Persecution Cases of 2009" report, complete with photos and references.

2009 Annual Report: Top Ten Cases of Christian Persecution in China
China Aid Association
January 19, 2010

Case #1: Persecution of the Shanxi Linfen Fushan Church: At about 3:00 AM the morning of September 13, 2009, a mixed crowd of 400 local government officials and villagers in police suits burst onto the Fushan Church construction site and beat the church members who were sleeping in the dorm rooms at the site. More than 100 church members were injured; 30 people were beaten so severely they were sent to the emergency room. The police smashed the windows and doors of the factory, and looted the church property, including TVs, refrigerators, money, and cars. They damaged 17 buildings, and destroyed the foundations of the new church building.

The leaders of Linfen Church held a prayer rally the day after the attack, which was attended by more than 1,000 believers, despite threats from local officials. In the weeks that followed, more than 30 Linfen Church leaders were arrested. The Linfen House Church Network was forbidden to meet and placed under 24-hour state military surveillance. Fushan County officials offered the church 1.4 million Yuan to not file a complaint with the Central government, but the offer was rejected when the officials refused to lift the ban and remove the guards.

After a second series of arrests in mid-October, the Fushan PSB released all but ten Linfen leaders. On the 17^th, five were sentenced to criminal detention. On November 2^nd, the Linfen court abruptly notified the families of Yang Rongli, Wang Xiaoguang, Yang Xuan, Cui Jiaxing, and Zhang Huamei that their case would go to trial on November 25, 2009. The Linfen Raodu People’s Court held a rapid trial, and announced the verdicts for the five Linfen Church pastors immediately following the hearing. Numerous legal procedures were not followed, with evidence pointing to a predetermined verdict, which further violated Chinese law.

Two criminal charges were used—the crimes of "illegally occupying farming land" and "disturbing transportation order by gathering masses." Sister Yang Rongli was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and fined 30,000 Yuan; Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, three years and 10,000 Yuan; Yang Xuan, three and a half years and 20,000 Yuan; Cui Jiaxing, five and a half years and 50,000 Yuan; and Zhang Huamei, four years.

On November 30^th, the five other church leaders were charged with “gathering masses to disturb the transportation order,” and were arbitrarily sentenced to two years’ Re-education through Labor (starting from October 11^th). Those leaders included husband and wife Li Shuangping and Yang Hongzhen, Yang Caizhen (wife of Yang Xuan), Gao Qin, and Zhao Guoai.

The Linfen Church was founded in 1978 and has over 50,000 church members. It is deeply influenced by the teachings of Pastor Hsi (1835-1896), a famous local church leader in the 19^th century. Pastor Hsi also wrote numerous Chinese Christian hymns. For more information on the Linfen Case (English), go to http://www.helplinfen.com/stories.html. For information in Chinese, http://chinaaid.org/chinese_site/press_release_detail.php?id=10302.

Case #2: Persecution of Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti, from Xinjiang: Alimujiang Yimiti was born in June, 1973, in Hami, Xinjiang. In 1995, he converted from Islam to Christianity and became a house church leader. He and his wife have two boys. Alimujiang was a regional manager of a British food company (founded in 2000) in Kashi.

On September 13, 2007, the Kashi Bureau of Religious and Ethnic Affairs charged Alimujiang with being “illegally involved in religious activities in the Kashi area; spreading Christianity among the Uyghur population; and delivering religious materials.”

On January 12, 2008, the Kashi Public Safety Department placed Alimujiang in criminal detention and accused him of “jeopardizing national security and providing national secrets to foreign countries.” On February 20, 2008, the Procuratorate ratified the arrest, and Alimujiang was detained in Kashi Prison. (On September 12^th 2008, the UN OHCHR Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion affirming Alimujiang had been illegally detained by the Chinese government.)

On May 27, 2008, the Kashi Intermediate People’s Court opened the trial on Alimujiang’s case. The same night, the court announced a “lack of evidence” and asked the local police to do further investigation. On July 28^th, the court opened for a second trial; however, the court did not announce the decision. Over a year later, on August 6, 2009, Alimujiang was charged with “providing state secrets to foreigners” and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. His defense lawyer Li Dunyong and his family did not learn about his sentence until December, 2009, which is in violation of Chinese law.

Alimujiang could not admit to being guilty, and he subsequently agreed to appeal from prison. Mr. Li Baiguang, an experienced lawyer from Beijing Gongxin Law Office, agreed to take his appeal case. On January 7, 2010, Attorney Li sent Alimujiang’s letters of appeal to the regional and national Courts. See the CAA Reports on Alimujiang’s Case from 08/05/09 and

Brother Shao Wangui Detained Again on Christmas Eve

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 19, 2010

ZHEJIANG--ChinaAid recently learned that Shao Wangui (house church leader and Chairman of the board of Wenzhou Ouhai Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd) was illegally detained again on Christmas Eve by local officials, and was finally released on January 6, 2010. Shao was first detained on November 23, 2009 and released on November 30th, following an attack in September that reduced the Xinba Factory to rubble.

Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd has a strong heritage of being run by a Christian family. The company was founded in 2007 to operate a shoes business. In the fall of 2009, Shao Wangui came into conflict with local villagers and authorities, because he refused to donate money to build a Buddhist temple.

On August 21, 2009, the company’s production manager Shao Xinzhong was severely injured and was sent to the hospital. On September 11th, at about 8:00 AM, the Xianyan County government dispatched 100 police and 30 removers to demolish the factory by force. The Shao brothers found no where to appeal to and were forced to protest in Tiananmen Square. Read about the attack on Xinba Shoes Factory in September, 2009.

After this event was reported, it stirred a general outcry among the people. However, the authorities refused to apologize. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, they secretly detained Shao Wangui at a hotel in Wenzhou City, Ouhai. Shao managed to call his family and told them he was not feeling well and needed medical aid. Later, he was transferred to another undisclosed location until January 6, 2010, when he was finally released. Shao Wangui’s younger brother and company partner has also suffer oppression from the local government and was forced to seek places to hide from officials.

ChinaAid and the churches in Wenzhou area call upon the Christians all over the world to pray for the safety issues of the Shao brothers. We urge believers to pray for the oppressing situation Christian businesses face as they operate in China.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Google Takes a Stand against Chinese Censorship: U.S. Backs Google, China Talks Begin

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid
January 18, 2010

USA/CA--Since Google broke the news last Tuesday, the Chinese government has stood their ground, despite the U.S. government backing Google on the grounds of preserving freedom of speech and internet freedom. Strong proponents of internet freedom in the U.S. Congress, the European Union, and other leading governing bodies have weighed in on the issue--but it remains to be seen whether the fireworks will move either Google or the Chinese government in a cooperative direction.

Google has already faced a decrease in investment in the critical week before quarter closings. Shutting down Google.cn operations would cut off Google's 30% market share in China, a thought that scares investors. Though Chinese-run Baidu.com holds the majority of the internet market in China, (at nearly 60%), recent gains by Google in-country and strong future estimates made China Google's most promising market. More than 300 million internet users and thousands of employees may be deprived of contact with western media if Google leaves. Some political analysts see the impending departure of Google.cn as an sign of China closing itself off from the West.

For Chinese human rights activists, who were targeted by the cyber attack on Google in December, 2009, this strong stance rooted in ethical business practice comes as a breath of fresh air. Google has in a sense staked its future on their current stance against censorship and for internet freedom.

ChinaAid and many other human rights organizations commend Google's brave action, and pray that the other companies who were victims of the cyber attack will similarly step forward. The American company is taking a gamble based on principle, and in rallying to their side, the U.S. government has now staked much of its Chinese human rights policy around freedom of speech and information. Will this be the watershed point for U.S.-China human rights talks? Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton will give a formal statement on the issue this week. Her remarks may well decide the course of U.S.-China foreign policy for the forseeable future.

Read the Original Blog posted by David Drummond, Google's SVP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer:

GOOGLE: "A NEW APPROACH TO CHINA." http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html

To catch up on the Google-China Censorship battle, check out these articles from the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, New York Times, Reuters, and other reputable sources:

1/18/2010--(Bloomberg) GOOGLE BEGINS TALKS WITH THE CHINESE OVER INTERNET CENSORSHIP: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBcdIh_c70GA&pos=4

1/15/2010--(Wall Street Journal) U.S. SEEKS GOOGLE-CHINA PROBE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703657604575004421409691754.html

1/15/2010--(Mail Foreign Service) U.S. BACKS GOOGLE'S STAND FOR INTERNET FREEDOM IN CHINA: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1243533/US-backs-Googles-stance-China.html

1/15/2010--(Reuters) CHINA PLAYS DOWN GOOGLE DISPUTE: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-45431720100115 / WALL STREET FRETS OVER GOOGLE'S FUTURE IN CHINA: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60B5RV20100113

1/15/2010--(Mail Foreign Service) GOOGLE LIFTS VEIL ON TIANANMEN MASSACRE IMAGES: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1243104/Googles-China-crisis-Beijing-refuses-row-censorship-hacking.html

1/14/2010--(BBC News) CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS "THE INTERNET IS 'OPEN'" IN RESPONSE TO GOOGLE'S STATEMENT: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8458462.stm

1/12/2010--(NYTimes) GOOGLE THREATENS TO PULL OUT OF CHINA AFTER E-MAIL ACCOUNTS ARE HACKED. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/asia/13beijing.html?hp

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Help Linfen Church! Site Launch for HelpLinfen.com

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 15, 2010

SHANXI--Before dawn on Sunday, September 13, 2009, a band of 400 government officials, police and hired ruffians launched an attack on Linfen-Fushan Church in Shanxi. With no warning, members who were sleeping at the church construction site were mercilessly beaten, with more than 30 left in critical condition. Bulldozers razed the factory and church building to the ground, and the mob looted any valuables and smashed the remaining property. Following the brutal attack, the Fushan governing officials arrested more than ten Linfen church leaders.

Esther, the daughter of two Linfen pastors, called home frantically in October, after learning about the attack on Fushan Church over the internet. The phone rang and rang, but no one answered. She later learned from a relative that her father and mother had been arrested in a sweeping backlash against house church leaders on October 11, 2009.

In the trial held on November 25th, Esther's father Yang Xuan was convicted of "unlawfully occupying agricultural land" and sentenced to 3 1/2 years with a 20,000 Yuan fine. Her Aunt Yang Rongli received a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison and 30,000 Yuan fine, and her Uncle Wang Xiaoguang received 3 years in prison with a 10,000 Yuan fine. Esther's mother, Yang Caizhen, was arbitrarily sentenced to two years Re-education through Labor in the brutal Laogai (labor-camp) system. Already fearing for their safety and health, Esther learned in December that her mother had been severely beaten in prison.

ChinaAid has now partnered with Esther (Yang Xue) to tell the world about the persecution of Linfen Church, with our new website, www.HelpLinfen.com.

HelpLinfen.com tells the full story of the Persecution of Linfen Church, complete with translated documentation and photo evidence. It also includes (Esther's) The Daughter of Linfen Prisoners' Appeal to the international community, as well as the appeals and testimonies of other family members and prisoners. In the coming months, HelpLinfen.com will also feature more ways to get involved and share the Linfen story with others.

Visit www.HelpLinfen.com today, and help us raise awareness about the devastating persecution of Linfen Church and house church Christians in China.

More Ways to Help Linfen Church!

Join ChinaAid in supporting the lawyers and families of these imprisoned Linfen Church pastors, by contributing to our Family of Prisoners and Legal Defense Funds.

These funds go directly to the family members of prisoners of conscience for their basic needs during this trying time, and to the lawyers who are leading the defense and filing the cases and appeals. Esther's parents and the 8 other Linfen church pastors agreed to appeal in December, 2009. Their lawyers have already begun filing the appeals.

ChinaAid needs your help to continue defending the persecuted. We humbly ask you to consider contributing to these funds and joining us in our efforts to secure religious freedom in China. With your help, we can continue to bring truth to light and pursue justice for Linfen Church.

Click here to donate to the Family of Prisoners and Legal Defense Funds.

For more information on the Linfen Church Case, visit www.HelpLinfen.com.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Police Officer Says Human Rights Attorney Gao Zhisheng "Went Missing on a Walk"

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 14, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Since mid-December, 2009, ominous rumors have circulated about Gao Zhisheng, hinting that he has died after brutal torture in prison. However, no reports have been confirmed, and the Chinese government continues to refuse comment on his condition and whereabouts.

A friend of ChinaAid in New York recently notified us about a serious development with Gao's daughter, Gege. Gege had been reportedly “pale and tired-looking” for months, fearing her father would be killed in prison. After hearing a rumor of Gao’s death just before Christmas, Gege became so emotionally distraught, she was forced to be hospitalized. She remains fragile and under medical care in a New York hospital.

On Thursday, January 14th, Gao's brother Zhiyi said he had gone to Beijing searching out the policeman who originally detained Gao Zhisheng back in February, 2009. The policeman told him that Attorney Gao allegedly “got lost and went missing while out on a walk” on September 25, 2009. Gao’s wife has refused to comment, but was reported to be extremely upset when she heard the news.

This is the first time a Chinese government official has hinted that they no longer have Gao Zhisheng in their custody, leading ChinaAid to believe Gao’s condition has taken a turn for the worse.

“It is totally unacceptable for the Chinese government to lose track of their own prisoner,” said President of ChinaAid Bob Fu. “It is absolutely clear that he was forcibly taken from his home in February 2009. Nearly a year later, the Chinese government now says they do not have him.”

Gao Zhisheng was last heard from via a phone call to Gao Zhiyi in early September, 2009. He was able to say "I'm ok" before the line went dead.

Though the rumors of death cannot be confirmed with no public statement from the Chinese government, Bob Fu remains extremely concerned. “We have every reason to suspect that the Chinese government has something very serious to hide. Gao's family has every right to know what happened to him. It is unbelievable that a high security prisoner would go missing while "out on a walk," without suspecting that there is a major cover up of his condition.”

ChinaAid calls on the international community to hold the Chinese government accountable for their treatment of Gao Zhisheng. To join ChinaAid's efforts to make the truth about Gao Zhisheng know, visit www.FreeGao.com.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Chinese Human Rights Activists Targeted, Google May Shut Down Chinese Operations

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 14, 2010

USA--Google's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development David Drummond announced on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, that unless Google is allowed to operate their Chinese search engine without censorship, they have prepared to shut down Google.cn operations.

The announcement follows an investigation of an attack in December where sources in China hacked into G-mail accounts, targeting Chinese human rights advocates. "We have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists."

According to their statement, the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who advocate human rights in China "have been routinely accessed by third parties.. most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users' computers."

Drummond admitted Google's reservations to the required censorship filters when they first launched their Chinese search engine in 2006, and stated on Tuesday that Google was "no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn."

Google plans to discuss operating an unfiltered search engine with the Chinese government in the next few weeks, "if at all" possible. "We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China."

The BBC covered this morning's press conference with the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. Ms. Jiang stated that China "administers the Internet according to law," and reasserted, "China's internet is open, and the Chinese government encourages development of the internet." Her remarks were called a "holding statement" by BBC's Chris Hogg, intended to defer comments until they could speak with Google representatives. Read the full article by BBC News, 1/14/2010.

Representing one of the human rights advocacy groups who have been targeted in cyber attacks, President of ChinaAid Bob Fu affirmed Google's investigation. "We regularly received phishing e-mails in our accounts, and a several ChinaAid contacts have had their passwords changed by an external third party. On one or two very serious occasions, a message has been sent from one of our accounts to the media by someone outside our organization."

"This issue of censorship and invasion of privacy is very serious, and we applaud Google's willingness to break the silence on this issue."

Bob Fu commended Google's strong stance. "We praise Google for placing ethics and principle at the fore of their business decisions. This is a bold step that sends a strong message to the Chinese government that not all companies are afraid to stand up to Chinese censorship laws and demand the freedom of speech. We hope that other companies follow their example."

ChinaAid urges other American and Western companies join with Google in standing up against China media censorship, to preserve the basic human right to freedom of speech.

Read the The Official Google Blog Statement by David Drummond, posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

This article cites information published by The Official Google Blog and BBC News, with all rights reserved.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

30 Chinese House Church Alliance Leaders Detained, Facing Administrative Detention

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 9, 2010
Last Updated: 1/12/2010

HEBEI--In the afternoon of January 8, 2010, (Beijing Time) 30 leaders of the Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA) were detained in Handan city, Hebei province. According to one detained pastor, who was able to use his cellphone briefly to notify an outside contact, a group of officers from the Handan City Public Security and Religious Affairs Bureaus broke into their leaders' meeting place where the 30 men and women were having a bible study, and forcefully took them to an unknown interrogation center within the city.

The 30 detained leaders include Pastor Li Cuixiang, from the Handan area, and Elder Wu Jianghe, from Beijing. The informing pastor reported that the PSB were threatening some of the detained pastors with 15 days of administrative detention. Immediately after relating the situation of the 30 pastors to the outside contact, the call abruptly cut off. ChinaAid and sources believe the pastor's cell phone was confiscated, as it could not be reached later on. President of the CHCA Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan calls upon the Handan government to release the church leaders immediately.

UPDATE ON 30 DETAINED CHCA LEADERS: ChinaAid received a report at 8:30 PM CST (1/12/2010) that three of the thirty detained pastors in Handan City, Hebei, received administrative detention on January 12, 2010: Sister Li Cuixiang was sentenced to 15 days, and pastors Wu Jianghe (from Beijing) and Zheng (from Zhengzhou, Henan) were sentenced to 10 days each. A few pastors have been released, but the remaining number of pastors in detention is unknown.

ChinaAid echoes Pastor Zhang's request, and urges the international community to voice their concerns for these persecuted house church leaders, and call for their immediate release.

To contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., send a message to:

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760

Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn

NOTE: If you are a citizen of another country, please click here to find the contact information of the Chinese embassy in your own nation http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Korla Police and Farm Leaders Burn Bibles and Persecute Elderly Christians

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 8, 2010

XINJIANG—On December 25, 2009, Puhui Farm leaders and policemen arrested several elderly and ailing Christians in Korla City, Xinjiang. Like many around the world, members of Corps house church were celebrating Christmas Day. In the middle of the celebration, a band of farmers and Security policemen disrupted a gathering of believers during their fellowship celebration. The Chief of Security, Yu Fagan, seized Wang Qiuyue, a 71-year-old widow, who had been a known Christian for over 45 years. Yu Fagan threw her roughly against a police car, like a rejected sack of garbage. The group wore hats of bearing the title "People's Police." They proceeded to dismantle and burn elderly Sister Wang's furniture before her eyes.

In another devastating blow to an elderly Christian woman, six farm leaders and policemen broke into He Cuiying's home, seizing 30 Bibles and spiritual books and publicly burning them in a bonfire outside her home. Sister He is a 69-year-old hemiplegic confined to her bed and permanent home care, and has been a faithful Christian for over 20 years.

Earlier that day, two elderly Christian leaders had dispatched gospel leaflets to members of their community. One farm leader traced the leaflets back to the women, and the "People's police" then arrested five Christians. Brother Nie Jiping (56 years old), Sister Huang Ying (46 years old), Sister Zhou Xia (39 years old) and Sister Wang Youling (46 years pld), were arbitrarily fined 5,000 Yuan each with no official charge.The farm leader warned them they would not be allowed to join in future Christian fellowship events or activities, and that all other Christians would not be allowed to meet.

President of ChinaAid Bob Fu denounced the blatant persecution of these elderly and faithful Christian brothers and sisters. "The actions of the Korla City farm leaders and police cannot be tolerated. They desecrated the sacred Word of God by burning Sister He Cuiying's Bibles and spiritual books. They further attacked those known to be physically weak and vulnerable."

ChinaAid calls on the international community to pray for the five Christian leaders who were arrested, and for those who suffered physical and emotional loss on Christmas Day. We urge the international community to continue praying for religious freedom in Xinjiang and throughout China.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

14 Han Chinese Christians Detained and Interrogated in Xinjiang

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 8, 2010

XINJIANG--At 5:00 PM, (Beijing time) officers from the Public Security military office Nong Wu Shi in the Aksu Region raided the home of a Han Chinese house church Christian, disrupting the worship gathering and seizing 14 believers. The Han Chinese Christians were escorted by the police to the local Aksu police station, where they were detained for over 12 hours. They each faced interrogation for allegedly conducting an "illegal religious gathering."

In the morning of January 8th (Beijing time), 11 of the 14 detained Christians were released, leaving house church leaders Yang Tianlu, He Sujin, and Sujin's son, He Guangyuan, in detention. Yang Tianlu had been previously arrested, tortured, and interrogated along with 30 other house church leaders in Xinjiang for meeting with four American missionaries two years ago, in April, 2007.

On April 27, Yang Tianlu was arrested for allegedly participating in an "evil cult organization" and was sentenced to 37 days criminal detention. Such arbitrary arrests and criminal detentions frequently result in full convictions and further sentencing, but due to widespread international pressure from organizations like ChinaAid and the help the U.S. Embassy, the 44-year-old pastor was released on May 18, 2007. He sustained beatings and other forms of torture while held at the detention center in Aksu region.

Learn more about Yang Tianlu's case of persecution from ChinaAid's reports from 4/24/07, 5/1/07, and 5/18/07.

This renewed wave of persecution against house church Christians in Xinjiang threatens to further increase racial and religious tensions on the predominantly Muslim region. ChinaAid calls on the international community to pray for the release of the three Han Chinese Christians, still detained in the Aksu detention center.

To contact the local authorities, call the Nong Wu Shi Public Security Office in Aksu region, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region:
Tel: +86-997-235-0110

For English-speakers, contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington:

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760

Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn

NOTE: If you are a citizen of another country, please click here to find the contact information of the Chinese embassy in your own nation http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Attorney Li Baiguang Files Appeal for Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
January 7, 2010

XINJIANG--ChinaAid learned that on behalf of the defendant, Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti, the prominent attorney Li Baiguang from the Beijing Gongxin Law Firm, has issued an urgent appeal addressed to the Xinjiang Provincial Government and Chinese Central Government on January 7, 2010.

In letters of appeal to the People's Congress, People's Supreme Court and People's Procuratorate at both the national and Xinjiang-regional levels, Attorney Li stated that according to the laws, the charge of “unlawfully providing state secrets to overseas organizations”and the sentence of 15 years imprisonment on Alimujiang are illegal and should be withdrawn. He articulated this in four main proofs with some brief facts:

1. There is no proof based for the charge of “unlawfully providing state secrets to overseas organizations”.

a. Alimujiang is not able to “unlawfully provide state secrets to overseas organizations” because he has no access to any state secrets because he is only a common citizen working for an agriculture company.

b. The original charge on him was due to illegal religious activity, i. e. spreading Christianity among Uyghur people. This is not spreading state secrets.

2. The only so called proof, the appraisal (given by the State Secrecy Bureau that the 'secret' in question is deemed 'top-secret') is not legally authoritative and endorsed.

3. Alimujiang has no subjective motivation to leak any state secrets because he does not know what specific aspect from his talk with the American was labeled as sate secret. He pleaded the court for further indication, but the court refused.

4. The trials on the local court level violated the legal procedure.

a. According to the law, any trial should be held without exceeding 45 days after having accepted the case, but Alimujiang was detained for more than one year after the first trial without issuing a verdict.

b. The court did not declare the verdict openly to the lawyer, which violated the legal procedure.

c. The court has not given a copy of the verdict to Alimujiang's wife after the verdict has been issued (on August 6 of 2009) for more than 4 months, which violates the legal procedure.

d. The court offered an illegal appraisal, yet refused following a legal procedure for an appraisal appealed by the attorney and the defendant.

e. The appellant suspects the appraisal is a fake one made by local officials who dislike his religious conversion.

The Attorney Li Baiguang is confident in this appeal because he believes that the central government may investigate the case for the sake of maintaining legal justice and social stability of Xinjiang.

Bob Fu, the president of ChinaAid, calls on the international community to raise awareness and join in the effort to release Alimujiang, an innocent man. He also advises the Chinese Central Government that through Alimujiang's case, they can discover and clear out any corrupted local officials who violate the laws and cause potential conflicts between different religious groups in Xinjiang.

According to Xinjiang’s history, the local officials in any dynasties are so easy to be corrupted since they are confident that Xinjiang is a place too far for the central government to control well, or even to understand its conditions enough. (For example, after July, 1759, the Qing Dynasty of China took over the region from the hands of Western (or Dungar) Mongols). Therefore, the Central Government of China should learn from history, and take the necessary steps to prevent such future conflicts from arising.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. For more information, contact Annee@ChinaAid.org.

Help Defend the Persecuted

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

December 30, 2009

This October, 2009, ChinaAid hosted six legal experts on a tour in the United States, speaking out on the treatment of human rights lawyers in China, and the cases they defend. Bringing dark testimonies of torture and detention to light, they spoke of being separated from their families, threatened, fired, and otherwise harassed for taking on sensitive cases, especially in the defense of religious minorities.

Having heard their testimonies, one observer asked, "Why would you ever want to be a human rights defense lawyer in China?"

Indeed, the incentive to defend human rights cases in China remains small. Chinese defense lawyers face the arduous challenge of not only researching and compiling evidence, building the case and defending their clients. They also struggle to work within a complex and corrupt legal system.

Yet each day, Chinese human rights attorneys defend those who would otherwise have no voice of their own. By fighting on the frontlines on behalf of the persecuted, they have seen prisoners freed, new precedents set, and harassment stopped against churches and communities because of their work.

Dr. Li Baiguang, a leading Christian human rights lawyer and the director of the Beijing Gongxin Law Firm describes the urgency of their work. "By taking up cases of persecution in the court, we, as human rights legal defenders, like little ants, may not knock down a huge wall immediately. But every time, bite by bite, bit by bit, we always move forward as a group, by creating more free rooms for us and others until the giant concrete falls."

Through our Legal Defense Fund, ChinaAid helps financially support these brave human rights defenders. The ChinaAid Legal Defense Team networks with independent house churches and Christian legal professionals to research cases, finance the legal fees, and provide counsel to the prisoners of conscience throughout China.

One of the most successful cases defended by ChinaAid Legal Defenders include the release of four male prisoners from their labor sentences in 2008, when the Supervisory Re-Education through Labor Commission overturned the ruling, for the first time in Chinese legal history. Twelve days later, three female pastors were released from their labor sentences in Hubei, after defense lawyers appealed their case.

These legal battles come at a great price - physically, spiritually, and financially. For the Linfen Church case alone, ChinaAid has sent thousands of dollars in legal support for the pastors in prison. Having received severe sentences, all ten pastors have begun the long and expensive process of appeals.

We will be launching the Help Linfen campaign this January 2010 to raise awareness and support the pastors and their lawyers as they bring their appeals to court.

As we enter the New Year, ChinaAid needs your help to continue defending the persecuted in 2010. We humbly ask you to consider contributing to the Legal Defense Fund and join us in our efforts to secure religious freedom in China.

With your help, we can continue to bring truth to light and pursue justice for prisoners of conscience under the law.

To help support the Legal Defense of prisoners of conscience, click here to donate. All donations received on or before December 31, 2009 will be tax-deductible in 2009.

Donate to the Legal Defense Fund

This online offer is being presented by ChinaAid. For additional information, you may contact us by clicking here or calling at 888-889-7757. To view our privacy policy, click here.

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Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Persecuted for Religious Conversion

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
December 23, 2009

XINJIANG--ChinaAid received breaking details on the case of Alimujiang Yimiti, a Uyghur Christian who has been illegally detained and held in prison for almost two years. On December 7, 2009, in Kashgar, Xinjiang, Lawyer Li Dunyong of the Beijing Gongxin Law Firm received notice that Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti had been sentenced by the Kashgar District Intermediate Court to a fixed-term imprisonment of 15-years, for the charge of “unlawfully providing state secrets to overseas organizations.” Alimujiang's family members were barred from seeing the verdict paper,. However, ChinaAid was able to access the document through a reliable inside Chinese government source, one who sympathizes with the unjust treatment of Mr. Alimujiang.

ChinaAid has since compiled a detailed summary of Mr. Alimujiang's case. Scroll down to read the full text below.

Legal experts have further discussed his case at length in a "Seminar on Alimujiang's Case." Click here to read more about the findings of the seminar.

"Religious Persecution Case of Alimujiang Yimiti,
Uyghur Christian Church Leader, Xinjiang, China
China Aid Association, December 23 2009

1. Introduction

On December 7, 2009, in Kashgar, Xinjiang, Lawyer Li Dunyong of the Beijing Gongxin Law Firm received notice that Mr. Alimjan Yimit [Ch. Alimujiang Yimiti], an ethnic Uyghur Christian unlawfully detained by the Chinese Government, as defined in an opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, has been sentenced by the Kashgar District Intermediate Court to a fixed-term imprisonment of 15 years for the charge of “unlawfully providing state secrets to overseas organizations.” The judgment was dated August 6, 2009.

By providing an overall review and analysis of this case while looking at the actual evidence, this paper shows it to be a typical case of the Chinese Government infringing upon the religious freedom of one of its citizens and that the charge of “leaking state secrets” is a fabrication by the Xinjiang Government merely to crack down on Christians.

2. Developments of the Case

(Except where it is directly noted, all references in this paper are sourced from the reports of China Aid Association, Midland, TX)

1) Personal Details:
Name: Alimjan Yimit (Official Chinese transcription: Alimujiang Yimiti)
China National ID No.: 6501-0419-7306-1047-12
Date and Place of Birth: June 10, 1973, Hami, Xinjiang
Academic Level: Community college (zhong-zhuan) degree
Address: Resident of Tianshan District, Urumqi, Xinjiang; living in Kashgar prior to his arrest
Family: wife, Gülnur [Gulinu'er]; two sons, ages 9 and 3, currently residing in Urumqi
Other: converted to Christianity from Islam in 1995

2) From 2002, Alimjan worked as the Kashgar District Branch Project Manager of Xinjiang Jiaerhao Foodstuff Co. Ltd., a company owned and established by the British company Jirehouse in 2000. He was responsible for the company’s orchard in Shule County (or Hancheng). On September 13, 2007 the Kashgar Municipal Commission of Ethnic and Religious Affairs issued a declaration that under the guise of his business activities, Alimjan Yimit had since 2002 engaged in unlawful religious infiltrative activities in Kashgar District, disseminating Christianity and spreading religious propaganda among the Uyghur masses and raising up Christian believers. He was also informed that he had violated the Xinjiang United Front Department’s “Notice Regarding the Strengthening of Supervision of Christianity and Catholicism” which states in its Article 2, “It is not permitted to develop believers among Islamic and Tibetan Buddhist minorities. It is not permitted to develop believers in border regions” (cf. document of the Municipal Commission of Ethnic and Religious Affairs).

3) On November 19, 2007, another Uyghur Christian and friend of Alimjan, Mr. Osman Imin [Ch. Wusiman Yiming] (born October 27, 1972; China National ID No.: 6532-2219-7210-2708-13. University graduate. Family: wife, Nurgül (Nu'erguli); two daughters, ages 8 and 7) of Hotan [Ch. Hetian], Xinjiang was detained by the Hotan Branch of China State Security Bureau (Anquanju ‘secret police’) suspected of leaking state secrets. The following is from the "Decision for Reeducation through Labor" issued by the Hotan Prefecture Commission for Administration of Reeducation through Labor on November 27, 2007 (see HLJZ (2007) No. 94):

“from March 1998 to April 2004 when working with the Lop [Ch. Luopu] County Branch of Xinjiang Pacific Resources Development Co., Ltd (a foreign-owned enterprise), Wusiman Yiming assisted foreigners in undertaking law-breaking activities. For the above criminal activities of Wusiman Yiming, the facts are clear and the evidence conclusive. According to the provisions in Paragraph 1, Article 10 of Provisional Implementation Measures for Reeducation through Labor issued by the State Council, it has been decided to sentence Wusiman Yiming to two-years of reeducation through labor. According to law, the 8 days of detention Wusiman Yiming was held prior will be counted towards the sentence. The execution period will be from November 27, 2007 to November 18, 2009. According to law, the sentence may be completed outside the reform camp where persons subjected to reeducation through labor comply with the conditions for implementation outside the reform camp.”

Before his arrest, Osman worked for a trading company in Yiwu city, Zhejiang province on the east coast of China. In July 2007, he was ordered to return to his home town and was placed under house arrest.

4) On January 12, 2008, Alimjan was detained by the Kashgar Municipal Public Security Bureau for the two charges of “inciting separatism [lit. to split the state; de facto sedition]” and “unlawfully providing state secrets to overseas organizations” and was formally arrested on February 20, upon approval of the Procuratorate. He has been held in custody at Kashgar Municipal Detention Center up to the present time. Alimjan’s first attorney, Mr. Zhang Kai of Beijing Yijia Law Firm, traveled from Beijing to Kashgar on February 25, 2008 but was denied the opportunity to meet Alimjan or serve as his counsel by the local government on the grounds of

Chinese House Church Alliance Shares A Troubling Year in Review for Persecuted Churches

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org
ChinaAid
December 19, 2009
BEIJING--Following the World Evangelical Alliance's visits with TSPM leaders in China and their positive verdict on church life and religious freedom, members of the Chinese House Church Alliance remember the cases of intense Christian persecution of 2009:

The Blessed 2009 Through Persecutions
A Review of Year 2009 by Chinese House Church Alliance

“ You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”-- Psalm 65:11

As Christmas is approaching, the Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA) bids a farewell to the tough year 2009 and greets 2010 with a confidence in God's providence. In 2009 the Chinese government continued its persecution of the House Church Movement (HCM) more intensively and CHCA as with all members of the House Church Movement have suffered a great deal.

The following cases of persecution in 2009 includes, but is not limited to, member churches of CHCA, their staff, and the president Rev. Zhang Mingxuan of CHCA, believers in other house churches, and even the Three-self Patriotic Movement Church (TSPM or TSPMC) in Municipalities, autonomous regions, and provinces:

February 8-11: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by the Nanyang government in Henan Province.

March 21: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan was arrested by the authorities of the Tongzhou District of Beijing and transferred to Nanyang police.

June 14: TSPM Changchun Church in Ninan city of Shandong Province was torn down receiving only a pitiful compensation.

June 21: HCM Qiu-yu Church in Chengdu city of Sichuan Province was shut down as an illegal organization with its properties confiscated.

July 4- 6: CHCA held its fourth annual conference in Nanyang, He-Nan, but at the end of the conference it was raided by the Nanyang government and the attendees were detained and interrogated.

August 6: Xiayi Religious Bureau of He-Nan issued a verdict and canceled the house church of Sangdong village, Sanggu.

August 25: A registered house church in Rizhao city, Shandong Province was called an “ illegal religious training program.” As a punishment while the church was holding the commencement of the second session training program, Religious Bureau officials and Donggang police raided the meeting and confiscated Bibles, computers, etc. The church's two meeting places at Shijiu Port Haibin No. 2 Road and another at Huanghai No.1 Road #36 were de-registered.

September 13: Around 3 AM, the local government raided the Fushan branch of Linfeng Church in Shanxi province and its Gospel Shoe Factory. The policemen beat up and injured a few dozen of the church members, left many rooms and facilities in ruins, and confiscated all of personal Bibles, cellphones and money of those believers.

September 23 to October 3: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife Xie Fenglan were detained by Nanyang government, Henan province.

October 13: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanxi Linfen for the purpose of visiting the persecuted Brothers and Sisters there, but they were detained by local police in the train station upon their arrival and transferred to the Nanyang police of Henan.

November 10: Rev. Zhang Mingxuan and his wife went to Shanghai and visited the persecuted members of Wangbang church, but they were arrested by the local police and transferred to Nanyang police for a detention until the 18th.

December 7: The defense lawyer for the defendant Uyghur Christian church leader Alimujiang Yimiti learned that his client had been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Xinjiang Kashigar Region Middle Level People's Court on August 6th.

In the past year, as the Chinese House Church Movement continues its revival, the Satanic attacks have increased more intensively with its anti-Christ evil power through Chinese Communist government who never stops their violation of citizen rights and religious freedom.

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that this is often the case for Christians stating, “ in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. However, the storm of persecution never stops the growth of the Chinese House Church, for the persecuted Brothers and Sisters hold their faith firmly continuing to meet outdoors in the snow and rain after their church was canceled or blocked by government and even praying for the persecutors. The passions and love for their Lord never decreases, and the confidence grows through the “nutrition of persecutions.” In the land of China in a hostile political environment Brothers and Sisters of House Church live, love, and serve as light and salt relying on the Rock of Jesus Christ and they bear abundant fruit to glorify God before the world as a great encouragement to each other and also to the churches around the world.

In 2009 the ministry of CHCA has developed by God's grace. Rev. Zhang and his coworkers set their footprints all over of China for the training of church workers, pastoral counseling and the ordination of many house church pastors, elders and they have brought effective ministry among those churches. After his sermon Christians and Politics, based on new visions from God, Rev. Zhang preached on the Freedom from all Kinds of Bondage and The Vision of Daniel. Through his personal experiences of persecution Rev. Zhang motivated many coworkers and Brothers and Sisters in their love for the Lord, patience in suffering and persecutions, relying on the Lord consistent, and fighting against Satan's power.

CHCA carries on the Great Commission of the Gospel of the Lord, and holds strongly to the principle of “serving the Church, promoting social welfare, and obeying laws.” Through appealing for persecuted churches, defending social disadvantaged groups, criticizing corrupted government, civil disobedience for the sake of Christan Faith and human universal values, CHCA promotes righteousness, justice and love by the help of God's mighty power and the union of world churches.

March 6: Rev. Zhang wrote a personal letter for the forth time to Chinese President Hu Jintao on be half of CHCA to reemphasize CHCA's principle of loving God and the nation, exposing the corruption of the local government and law enforcement officials, and criticizing the persecution of house churches by the local police and religious bureaus.

August 25: Rev. Zhang addressed to Chinese President Mr. Hu Jintao a personal “o pen” letter for the forth time for a appeal of terminating government's persecutions of the House Churches.

November 4: CHCA issued an written appeal for a worldwide prayer campaign for the persecuted house churches in China.

As the President of CHCA, Rev. Zhang and his wife visited and served persecuted churches often providing counseling ministry. He is also an active defender for legal rights of Christians and religious freedom. In 2009, they were tremendously helpful and encouraging for those persecuted

Pastor Zhang Mingxuan "Bike" Visits Three Released Brothers in Henan

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

December 19, 2009
HENAN--The President of Chinese House Church Alliance Pastor Zhang Mingxuan "Bike" and his wife visited three house church Christians who were recently released from prison in Zhoukou Village, Taikang of Henan Province, after being held for over one year. As Pastor Zhang greeted the three Christian brothers one by one, he sought to encourage them, and ascertain the condition of their families.

Finding that Shu Wenxiang and Tang Houyong were filled with peace and joy, Pastor Zhang said pleasantly, “Praise the Lord. You had suffered from prison but you have experienced the presence of God. The bodies of Christ from all around the world have been praying for you.” Pastor Zhang was very concerned about Brother Shu Wenxiang’s health; he said, “You don’t look well; I am sorry that you and your wife have suffered so much.” He asked concernedly about Brother Xie Zhengqi’s health and about his family.

Pastor Zhang expressed deep concern for Brother Xie Zhengqi, who is 64 -years-old.

Pastor Zhang encouraged them, “Brother Tang was released on October 21st, Brother Shu was released on November 1st, and Brother Xie went home on November 11th. Don’t you see, all these dates contain 1st. It’s a new beginning! Let us rely on the Lord and follow Him. Let us unite in Him for the furtherance of the Gospel."

On December 3, 2008, Xie Zhenqi, Shu Wenxiang and Tang Houyong were arrested by Bureau of Public Safety in Taikang. On December 16th, they were sentenced to one-year Re-education through Labor. They authorized Ms. Wu Chenglian to be their litigating representative and to file their administrative appeal. However, the Zhoukou Court rejected the appeal, confining the three Christians to a very long year of suffering.

In early June of 2009, Xie’s wife was diagnosed with heart disease. At that time, their son was away at college. Nobody was at hometo take care of their ten mu of farmland. Xie's daughter and son in law had to quit their jobs in the city to come home and reap the wheat in the field.

Shu Wenxiang’s father turned 79-years-old while he was in prison. Shu's wife was recovering from hysterectomy and was still weak. With no one to tend to their crops, the Shu’s garden went barren, eliminating their sole form of income. The whole family suffered from this financial crisis.

Tang Houyong’s wife continued to serve at a church in Xinyang City. Tang's other family members live in the rural area as well. At one time, his family had to make ends meet with no income.

Pastor Zhang made personal efforts to help the families and protest on the prisoners behalf while they were separated from their families. On August 16, 2009, Pastor Zhang Mingxuan appealed for them in his fourth open letter to President Hu Jintao, but it had no avail. Read the 4th Open Letter to President Hu Jintao.

As he embraced the men in their fond meeting, Pastor Zhang gave thanks to the Lord for the trials they had experienced and encouraged them to serve the Lord with faith. "The mission of Chinese House Church Alliance is to unite, help and encourage the bodies of Christ. The Lord protected you from being beaten in prison and His name was glorified because you did not bribe the officials. The Lord is pleased in you because you obey and trust in Him.”

ChinaAid affirms the testimonies of these faithful believers, and the persistence of their families' and the CHCA's efforts to free them from their bondage. We have supported the CHCA in helping these families of prisoners, and will continue to do so, as they recover and re-build their lives and ministries together.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.

ChinaAid Responds to World Evangelical Alliance's Statement on their Visit to China

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
December 18, 2009
Last Update: December 20, 2009

CHINAAID--After much prayer and discussion with members of fellow evangelical organizations, ChinaAid issues the following response to the statement issued by the World Evangelical Alliance concerning churches in China, on Wednesday, November 24th. (ChinaAid does not claim to represent the entire evangelical community, but is compelled by our calling to speak truth in love to our Christian brothers and sisters).:

Statement on the World Evangelical Alliance's Report on Meetings with Church Leaders in China, issued by ChinaAid Association

December 18, 2009

In response to requests from concerned Chinese House Church leaders and respected Christian leaders in the west regarding the statement issued by World Evangelical Alliance(WEA) on November 24 after an official trip to China, ChinaAid feels compelled to respond with the following statement:

While we affirm WEA's sincere intentions to serve the Church in China, ChinaAid believes that the WEA's public statement about their visit with TSPM leaders and Chinese government leaders has contributed to a misleading assessment about the true situation of the church in China.

In November, the leaders of the World Evangelical Alliance met with leaders of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) church and other state-run national church organizations in Beijing, Nanjing, and other provinces. These organizations in China shared their assessment of the "vibrancy and health" of the state-led church movement in the nation of China. In this overtly positive assessment, there was no acknowledgement of the existence and current deteriorating condition of the more than 80 million believers in China who have chosen, often with dangerous and uncertain consequences, to worship outside the state-sanctioned religious system. WEA's issued statement on this visit to China would lead the international community to believe that the Christian church is alive and well--free to worship under the atheist communist system. This over-simplifies a far more complicated situation for Christians living under communist-rule in China.

While it is certainly the WEA's prerogative to only meet with national, state-sanctioned and Three-Self church leaders, their failure to mention 80 million faithful Christians who are clearly the majority of Chinese Christian population and meet in house churches and rented offices, has compromised the cause of the suffering church in China. Faithful house church prisoners who number in the thousands are grieved by WEA's statement.

The WEA is indeed free to choose to work with the Chinese government sanctioned TSPM/CCC organizations and the Chinese government agencies as they will. We acknowledge there are true brothers and sisters leading faithful lives who attend the state churches. We are simply calling into question the very misleading signal and discouraging sign sent by what the WEA statement chose not to say in their statement. Believers around the world were misinformed by WEA not mentioning the reality of brutal persecution of house church Christians still pervasive throughout China.

ChinaAid embraces its mission to expose the truth where many others refuse to bring the hard realities to light. We believe WEA should speak up when 50,000 members of evangelical Linfen Church in Shanxi were attacked, with over 30 fellow brothers and sisters wounded, in a government organized and sanctioned early morning attack on September 13, 2009;

We believe the WEA should not neglect the injustice as when the ten leaders of Linfen Church in Shanxi were sentenced to long imprisonment and labor camps this November 25th and 30th for practicing their faith;

We believe the WEA should communicate in their public statement that the banning of Wanbang Missionary Church in Shanghai and subsequent illegally detention and abuse of pastors in October are in violation against China's own Constitution and also international norms on religious freedom;

We believe the severe 15-year sentence with trumped-up charges against a fellow evangelical Xinjiang Uighur believer, Brother Alimujiang Yimiti, in December should warrant a public protest from the WEA leaders.

We believe this silence is regrettable and even unjustifiable.

We call on our evangelical brothers and sisters around the world to open their eyes and see the true situation for the church in China--the good and the bad. It is only then that we can truly serve our brothers and sisters with compassion, and fulfill our calling to encourage the body of Christ.

Click here for a printable copy of the CAA's Statement.

Read the "WEA Leaders conclude historic meetings in China" article from November 24th, in English or Chinese.

CORRECTION: In the original press release on our response to the WEA's Statement on their visit to China, we informed readers that we consulted with members of the Religious Liberty Partnership with our concerns. While that is true, ChinaAid's statement does not represent RLP leadership nor should be seen as an endorsement from RLP. We have thus made appropriate adjustments to the release.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.

Secretary Clinton Explains U.S. "Pragmatic Policy" on Human Rights

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

ChinaAid Contacts
Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator
Tel: (267) 210-8278, or Annee@ChinaAid.org
Jenny McCloy, Director of Advocacy, Washington DC
Tel: (202) 213-0506, or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

ChinaAid
December 15, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C.--After side-stepping human rights concerns in China earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton firmly outlined the current U.S. diplomatic position on international human rights in her statement delivered at Georgetown University on Monday, December 14th. Confronting the issue head on, she underscored the State Department's commitment to human rights with a "pragmatic stance," asserting that U.S. human rights policy toward political and economic giants like Russia and China is often best conducted behind closed doors.

"Principled pragmatism informs our approach on human rights, informs our approach with all countries, but particularly with key countries like China and Russia." (AFP) Secretary Clinton expounded on the Obama Administration's commitment to this soft-power type diplomacy, but also asserted that some cases do require a public denouncement or action.

"In China, we call for protection of rights of minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang," she said. Later she added, "The United States also pushes for the right of people in China to "express oneself and worship freely" as well as for civil society and religious groups to advance their causes within a legal framework." The Secretary's spokesman further called specifically for the release of Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese democratic activist facing a 15-year sentence for political dissidence.

Still, her strategic comments emphasized the current administration's cosmopolitan political approach: "In every instance, our aim will be to make a difference, not to prove a point."

Along with other human rights advocates, ChinaAid President Bob Fu remains concerned about the implications of a U.S. hidden-negotiation approach to human rights concerns in China.

"In general, Secretary Clinton made good remarks in support of human rights. This is especially encouraging in light of her intentionally pedestrian oversight of human rights concerns, when she pronounced that human rights issues would "not interfere" with security and economic talks in Beijing this February. This time, she has reasserted the equal importance of human rights, pointing to religious freedom and other human rights concerns as related to economic, security, climate issues. This is a right step forward."

"But the choice of a closed-door approach to China has produced little progress so far, without the simultaneous efforts to speak up publicly about human rights concerns. We can only welcome a principled engagement of 'pragmatic policy,' as long as this strategy does not become the means or excuse for shirking our greater responsibilities to defending freedom and principle."

Quotes from Secretary Clinton's address and information were used from article published by Agence-France Presse. Click here to read the "U.S. takes a pragmatic rights approach to China, Russia," by AFP's Lachlan Carmichael.
Read Secretary Clinton's Speech at Georgetown (Madame Secretary's Blog).
Read "Clinton Outlines Human Rights Policy," by David Alexander for Reuters.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.

"Like Pigs in a Slaughterhouse"--Chuck Colson Defends Victims of Forced Abortion in China

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Chuck Colson covers Wuijian's testimony on her personal experience with forced abortion on Washington, D.C.'s Breakpoint Radio Broadcast.

Listen to the radio broadcast live: http://www.breakpoint.org/commentaries/13808-like-pigs-in-a-slaughterhouse

Like Pigs in a Slaughterhouse

Forced Abortion in China

By Chuck Colson| Published Date: December 14, 2009

As painful as it is to talk about forced abortion, we must speak out when we see such monstrous evil. Find out how you can make your voice heard. Listen Now | Download

During Advent, Christians love to tell their children the story of Mary, great with child, arriving in Bethlehem to give birth to her Son.

It’s a heartwarming image. But for many Chinese women, it’s one that brings back horrible memories. Memories of their own pregnancies that ended, not in birth, but in the death of their babies through forced abortion.

A Chinese woman called Wujian—not her real name—recently testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission about China’s brutal one-child policy. Four years ago, Wujian became pregnant with an “illegal” baby—one conceived without a birth permit.

In an effort to protect her child, Wujian hid in a shack in a remote area. She was lonely and frightened, but took pleasure in feeling her baby begin to move inside her.

But when family planning officials learned where she was, they broke into the house and dragged Wujian into a van. She was taken to a hospital, where she found dozens of other women who had just undergone forced abortions. Some were crying, some were screaming, and one was rolling around the floor in agony. They were, Wujian said, “just like pigs in the slaughterhouse.”

And then it was Wujian’s turn. As the nurse prepared to inject her with oxytocin to induce birth, Wujian begged her not to do it. The nurse became angry. She told Wujian that she did these procedures every day, and that it was no big deal. “She put the needle...in my womb,” Wujian says. “It was the end of the world for me.”

The next evening, Wujian was taken to a room with bloody fingerprints on the wall left by other women. Since the injection had not worked, the doctors opted for a surgical procedure that is simply too gruesome for me to describe on the air.

Conscious during the procedure, Wujian decided at that point that she really wanted to die. At the end of the surgery, the nurse showed the results of the procedure, and then, her baby’s remains were thrown into a trash can.

As the months went by, Wujian’s emotional suffering increased. She could not forgive herself for not saving her child. Wujian was saved, however—and healed—only when she accepted Christ.

She told the Lantos Commission, “I do believe that I will meet my baby again in heaven. If God allows, I will ask forgiveness from my baby when I see [him] in heaven.”

Wujian is just one of hundreds of millions of Chinese women who endure the evil of forced abortion—what Congressman Chris Smith calls “the worst violation of women’s rights in human history.”

The Chinese claim that they’ve loosened up their one-child policy. It’s a lie. I hope you’ll go to our website, BreakPoint.org, and we’ll tell you about how you can sign a petition asking the Chinese government—no, demanding the Chinese government end this barbaric practice once and for all.

And as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, we should pray for women like Wujian—mothers who suffer the agony of having their precious little babies murdered—every day of the year.

Further Reading and Information

Sign Our Petition Against Forced Abortion in China!
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers

The "Womb Police": China Still Says One Child Is Enough
Anne Morse | BreakPoint Online | July 27, 2009

Sleepless in Shanghai: Reaping What They Didn’t Sow
Chuck Colson | BreakPoint Commentary | August 17, 2009

The Curse that Keeps on Giving: China's One-Child Policy
Chuck Colson | BreakPoint Commentary | April 22, 2009

For printer-friendly version, simply visit www.breakpoint.org and click on Today's Commentary. The printer-friendly link is on the bottom of the right-hand column.

Copyright © 2009 Prison Fellowship. All Rights Reserved
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China Pushes for Population Control at Climate Talks in Copenhagen

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Copenhagen: China pushing Population Control as the Final Solution"--article by Hillary White for LifeSiteNews.com. Read the full article posted on December 11, 2009.

"Fast-growing Christian Churches Crushed in China"--FoxNews covers the AP report

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

LINFEN--The Associated Press-Beijing's Christopher Bodeen quotes Bob Fu and ChinaAid reports on Linfen Church in his coverage of the repression of House Churches in China.

Fox News, Google, Yahoo, The Guardian (UK), and others picked up the story by the Associated Press.

The Associated Press:

"Fast-growing Christian Churches Crushed in China"

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN (AP)
Thursday, December 10, 2009--12:10 PM EST

LINFEN, China — Towering eight stories over wheat fields, the Golden Lamp Church was built to serve nearly 50,000 worshippers in the gritty heart of China's coal country.

But that was before hundreds of police and hired thugs descended on the mega-church, smashing doors and windows, seizing Bibles and sending dozens of worshippers to hospitals with serious injuries, members and activists say

Today, the church's co-pastors are in jail. The gates to the church complex in the northern province of Shanxi are locked and a police armored personnel vehicle sits outside.

The closure of what may be China's first mega-church is the most visible sign that the communist government is determined to rein in the rapid spread of Christianity, with a crackdown in recent months that church leaders call the harshest in years.

Authorities describe the actions against churches as stemming from land disputes, but the congregations under attack are among the most successful in China's growing "house church" movement, which rejects the state-controlled church in favor of liturgical independence and a more passionate, evangelical outlook.

While the Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Christians are required to worship in churches run by state-controlled organizations: The Three-Self Patriotic Movement for Protestants and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for Roman Catholics.

But more and more Chinese are opting to choose their own churches, despite them being technically illegal and subject to police harassment. Christians worshipping in China's independent churches are believed to number upwards of 60 million, compared to about 20 million who worship in the state church, according to numbers provided by scholars and church activists.

House churches have been around for decades, but their growth has accelerated in recent decades, producing larger and larger congregations that are far more conspicuous than the small groups of friends and neighbors that used to worship in private homes, giving the movement its name.

Their expansion and growing influence has deeply unsettled China's rulers, always suspicious of any independent social group that could challenge communist authority. Fears that Tibetan Buddhism and Islam promote separatism among Tibetans and Uighurs also drive restrictions on those religions.

"They are so afraid of rallying points developing for gathering of elements of civil society," said Daniel Bays, who follows Chinese Christianity at Calvin College, a religious school in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

While house churches have faced varying degrees of repression depending on the region and political climate, the latest crackdown appears to specifically target the largest congregations.

Authorities want to dismantle large churches "before they grow out of total control," said Bob Fu, a former Communist Party researcher in Beijing who now heads the China Aid Association, a Texas-based church monitoring group.

At least two other large churches have recently faced similar crackdowns.

In Beijing in October, authorities locked parishioners of Shouwang house church out of the space they had rented to worship in. In Shanghai, the Wangbang congregation faced a similar lockout. Both congregations had grown to more than 1,000 members.

Shouwang and Wangbang church leaders have not been detained, but activists fear further arrests are coming.

In a brief phone conversation, Wangbang's pastor Cui Quan said worship continued in small groups while he fought to have their lease restored. He declined to give other details.

Christianity was long associated with foreign interference in traditionally Buddhist and Taoist China, and came under heavy attack after the 1949 Communist revolution.

The most onerous restrictions were lifted after the death of communist leader Mao Zedong in 1976. Although Christians still account for a less than 10 percent of China's 1.3 billion people, recent years have seen rapid growth in house churches in both cities and rural areas,

Adding to official concerns about their numbers, house-church Christians also emphasize missionary work — illegal in China — and some have even operated an underground network to help smuggle North Korean refugees and Uighurs out of China in defiance of the security forces.

The Golden Lamp Church was built by husband and wife evangelists Wang Xiaoguang and Yang Rongli as a permanent home for their followers, whose numbers had soared to more than 50,000.

The couple, administrators at the provincial teachers' college, had been preaching in the region around the city of Linfen since 1992, establishing a network of three dozen communities meeting in improvised spaces such as factory dormitories and greenhouses. They also attracted thousands to tent revival meetings.

According to Bob Fu, Shanxi authorities grumbled as the church was being built last year, but did not try to stop work and offered few, if any, signs that an impending crackdown.

On a rainy Sunday in mid-September, some 400 police officers and hired thugs descended on more than a dozen church properties around Linfen, smashing doors and windows and hauling off computers, Bibles, and church funds, according to accounts posted online by church members and their allies.

Those accounts said worshippers who resisted were beaten, with dozens hospitalized with serious injuries.

Wang, Yang, and three other church leaders were convicted on Nov. 25 on charges including illegally occupying agricultural land and assembling a crowd to disrupt traffic. Yang, 51, received a seven-year sentence, while Wang, 56, and the others received terms of three to four years. Five others were sentenced without trial to two years in a labor camp.

Other church leaders have gone into hiding.

Courts, police and government officials in Linfen refused to comment on the claims of violence and persecution. A local Communist Party spokesman said only that the case centered on the mega-church's lack of planning approval.

"We have always supported and allowed everybody to believe in religion. But the church itself is an illegally constructed building," said the spokesman, who would give only his surname, Wang.

A lawyer for Wang and Yang, Li Fangping, said the church had applied for permits to build the church from the local religious affairs bureau and the land use authority, but received no reply.

Almost three months after the crackdown, people in and around Linfen refuse to discuss the church, and police vehicles remain parked on virtually every corner of the neighborhood where the Golden Lamp is located.