China releases three Christians after global summit
Protestants held in 'black jails' for more than a week
Chinese authorities have released three Protestants in Henan province
after they were held in unmarked ‘black jails’, apparently to prevent
them from embarrassing the government as world leaders descended on
Beijing for the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Zhang Lingxin, daughter of imprisoned Pastor Zhang Shaojie, her aunt Zhang Cuijian and Fan Ruizhen, who is leading Nanle County church in Henan following Pastor Zhang’s absence, were released on Friday after nine days in detention, US-based China Aid confirmed Tuesday.
“They took me to the Nanle County Party Committee guest house where the rooms had been soundproofed. They locked me up there,” Zhang said following her release.
Although she was punched and kicked when first detained, her treatment improved afterwards, she added.
The detentions marked the latest episode in a long-running campaign of persecution by authorities in Henan province that church and rights groups say represents a travesty of justice even by Chinese standards.
A land dispute between local authorities and Nanle Church led to the detention of a dozen Christians including Pastor Zhang at the end of last year. In July, Pastor Zhang received a 12-year prison term, the harshest sentence handed down for a church leader since the Cultural Revolution, according to China Aid Director Bob Fu.
The case for the prosecution centered on testimony by a member of Zhang’s congregation, Li Cairen, who never appeared in court and who remains missing, also in a ‘black jail’, according to China Aid.
Although Chinese authorities regularly detain church leaders in unmarked prisons, it is rare for officials to take such drastic measures against ordinary Christians.
Both Zhang and Fan were previously detained at the end of last year in official police detention centers when the authorities stepped up persecution against the Nanle Church, which is part of the government-approved Protestant Church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Their detention this month coincided with the start of APEC meetings in Beijing on November 5, and they were not released until two days after world leaders including US President Barack Obama left China.
“Detaining people during so-called ‘sensitive periods’ such as important conferences or anniversaries has become a routine part of a ‘stability maintenance’ policy, the major method for the Communist Party to rule the country,” said Li Dunyong, a rights lawyer who has defended Christians in Nanle.
Prior to the APEC summit, Pastor Zhang’s oldest daughter Huixin Zhang appealed for Obama to raise the detention of her father and younger sister in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although there have been no reports that the issue was addressed by the US president.
Zhang Lingxin, daughter of imprisoned Pastor Zhang Shaojie, her aunt Zhang Cuijian and Fan Ruizhen, who is leading Nanle County church in Henan following Pastor Zhang’s absence, were released on Friday after nine days in detention, US-based China Aid confirmed Tuesday.
“They took me to the Nanle County Party Committee guest house where the rooms had been soundproofed. They locked me up there,” Zhang said following her release.
Although she was punched and kicked when first detained, her treatment improved afterwards, she added.
The detentions marked the latest episode in a long-running campaign of persecution by authorities in Henan province that church and rights groups say represents a travesty of justice even by Chinese standards.
A land dispute between local authorities and Nanle Church led to the detention of a dozen Christians including Pastor Zhang at the end of last year. In July, Pastor Zhang received a 12-year prison term, the harshest sentence handed down for a church leader since the Cultural Revolution, according to China Aid Director Bob Fu.
The case for the prosecution centered on testimony by a member of Zhang’s congregation, Li Cairen, who never appeared in court and who remains missing, also in a ‘black jail’, according to China Aid.
Although Chinese authorities regularly detain church leaders in unmarked prisons, it is rare for officials to take such drastic measures against ordinary Christians.
Both Zhang and Fan were previously detained at the end of last year in official police detention centers when the authorities stepped up persecution against the Nanle Church, which is part of the government-approved Protestant Church, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Their detention this month coincided with the start of APEC meetings in Beijing on November 5, and they were not released until two days after world leaders including US President Barack Obama left China.
“Detaining people during so-called ‘sensitive periods’ such as important conferences or anniversaries has become a routine part of a ‘stability maintenance’ policy, the major method for the Communist Party to rule the country,” said Li Dunyong, a rights lawyer who has defended Christians in Nanle.
Prior to the APEC summit, Pastor Zhang’s oldest daughter Huixin Zhang appealed for Obama to raise the detention of her father and younger sister in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although there have been no reports that the issue was addressed by the US president.
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