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Chinese Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Missing Again

Two weeks after release, Christian vanishes while in police custody in northern Xinjiang

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

DUBLIN (ANS) — Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights lawyer released by Chinese officials on April 6 and missing again since April 20, is “definitely in the hands of Chinese security forces,” Bob Fu of the China Aid Association (CAA) told Compass Direct News.

“We’ve heard the reports and we’re investigating this closely,” Fu told Compass. “Right now nobody has been able to locate him. The Chinese security forces need to come up with an explanation.”

Compass said Gao, initially seized from his home in Shaanxi Province on Feb. 4 2009 and held by security officials for 13 months, was permitted to phone family members and colleagues in late March. Officials finally returned him to his Beijing apartment on April 6.

In a press conference held in a Beijing teahouse the day after his return, Compass reported Gao said he wanted to be reunited with his family, who fled to the United States in Jan. 2009, and he claimed he no longer had the strength to continue his legal work. He also said he could not comment on the treatment he received while in captivity.

Gao also told a reporter from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that he expected to travel to Urumqi within days of his release to visit his in-laws.

Compass said witnesses saw Gao leaving his apartment sometime between April 9 and 12 and getting into a vehicle parked outside his building, SCMP reported on April 30. Gao’s father-in-law reportedly confirmed that Gao arrived at his home with an escort of four police officers but spent just one night there before police took him away again.

Gao phoned his father-in-law shortly before he was due to board a flight back to Beijing on April 20. He promised to call again after returning home but failed to do so, according to the SCMP report.

Compass reported Fu said he believes that international pressure forced authorities to allow Gao a brief re-appearance to prove that he was alive before officials seized him again to prevent information leaking out about his experiences over the past year.

Compass said during a previous imprisonment in 2007, Gao’s captors brutally tortured him and threatened him with death if he spoke about his treatment. Gao later described the torture in an open letter published by CAA in 2009.

Compass said Gao came to the attention of authorities early last decade when he began to investigate the persecution of house church Christians and Falun Gong members. In 2005 he wrote a series of open letters to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao accusing the government of torturing Falun Gong members.

When the letters appeared, authorities revoked Gao’s law license and shut down his law firm, Compass said sources told CAA.

Compass said he was given a suspended three-year jail sentence in Dec. 2006, following a confession that Gao later claimed was made under extreme duress, including torture and threats against his wife and children. Gao was then confined to his Beijing apartment under constant surveillance – forbidden to leave his home, use his phone or computer or otherwise communicate with the outside world, according to a report by The New York Times.

A self-taught lawyer and a Communist Party member until 2005, Gao was once recognized by the Ministry of Justice as one of the mainland’s top 10 lawyers for his pro bono work on human rights cases, according to SCMP.

Thank You Google!

Pastor Zhang Mingxuan ‘Bike’ Visits Three Released Chinese Brothers in Henan Province, China

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

HENAN, CHINA (ANS) — ChinaAid has revealed that 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.

Pastor Zhang (center) spent the day encouraging Shu Wenxiang (left) and Tang Houyong (right), after their release from one year in prison (Photo: ChinaAid)

“As Pastor Zhang greeted the three Christian brothers one by one, he sought to encourage them, and ascertain the condition of their families,” said a spokesperson for ChinaAid.

“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.'”

ChinaAid said that Pastor Zhang was very concerned about Brother Shu Wenxiang’s health and he told him, “You don’t look well; I am sorry that you and your wife have suffered so much.”

He also 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 by saying, “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.”

The ChinaAid spokesperson went on to say that on December 3rd, 2008, Xie Zhengqi, Shu Wenxiang and Tang Houyong were arrested by members of the 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 home to take care of their 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 try and 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,” said the ChinaAid spokesperson. “On August 16th, 2009, Pastor Zhang Mingxuan appealed for them in his fourth open letter to President Hu Jintao, but it had no avail.”

The spokesperson said that as he embraced the men at their meeting, Pastor Zhang gave thanks to the Lord for the trials they had experienced and encouraged them to serve the Lord with faith.

He told them, “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.”

The spokesperson added, “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.”

For more information, go to www.chinaaid.org.

Five Chinese Christian House Church Leaders Sentenced to Labor Camps Without Trial

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

SHANXI, CHINA (ANS) — In what is seen as an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB), which circumvents the court and prosecution systems, five more church leaders from Linfen Church, Shanxi, were each sentenced November 30 to two years re-education through labor.

ChinaAid (www.chinaaid.org ) says the sentence allegedly took effect November 11th, while they were already detained.

In a media release, ChinaAid says the five Christian leaders included Mr. Li Shuangping, Ms. Yang Hongzhen, Ms. Yang Caizhen (whose husband, Yang Xuan, received three years sentence on Nov. 25), Ms. Gao Qin (a.k.a. Gao Fuqin), and Ms. Zhao Guoai. Among the five, ChinaAid confirmed three members’ two-year re-education through labor sentences through their family members — including Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Mr. Li Shuangping.

ChinaAid stated: “The other two members’ sentences were confirmed indirectly by Linfen-Fushan church leaders, since their family members were being held under severe government surveillance.”

According to ChinaAid, the five church leaders were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order, ” referring to the one-thousand-believer prayer rally held on September 14 for the victims of the midnight attack on Fushan Church. 17 church buildings were destroyed and over 30 believers were seriously wounded during the unprecedented mob attack on September 13.

ChinaAid says that according to a witness, Ms. Yang Caizhen was seen being beaten severely during an interrogation.

“One of her front teeth was knocked out during an interrogation, and Ms. Yang is reported to look very fragile,” the Christian charity said.

In its media release, ChinaAid goes on to say that Government authorities asked the prisoners’ family members to sign the Notification-to-Family-Member sentence document, but refused to give them official copies. They claimed the church leaders themselves had received the documents while held in detention (a procedure which violates Chinese law). The family members of Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Li Shuangping all signed the notification papers respectively. All ten Linfen church leaders plan to appeal.

“To arbitrarily send five innocent citizens to labor camps directly violates the international human rights covenants and norms the Chinese government has signed and even ratified, ” said ChinaAid President Bob Fu.

“This case shows the Chinese government is determined to be on the wrong side of history by clenching its power with suppressing the basic freedom of religion and conscience for Chinese citizens. We call upon the international community to hold these rights abusers accountable.”

_______________________________________________

Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org  for further information.

Contact: Annee Kahler,
Media Coordinator,
267-210-8278,
Annee@ChinaAid.org ;

Jenny McCloy,
Directory of Advocacy,
(Washington, DC),
202-213-0506,
Jenny@ChinaAid.org  

www.ChinaAid.org
www.MonitorChina.org

Nobel Prize Nominee Attorney Gao Zhisheng Still Alive, Condition and Whereabouts Still Unknown

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) — Christian human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng was taken by a dozen police officers and last seen in public on February 4, 2009.

Gao Zhisheng’s wife Geng He, daughter Geng Ge (16) and son Gao Tianyu (5). (ChinaAid photo).

Gao Zhisheng has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for defending the persecuted. He has been an unyielding voice for justice in the Chinese courts.  

ChinaAid (www.ChinaAid.org ) recently confirmed that Attorney Gao is alive, allegedly released on parole, though his condition and whereabouts are still unknown.

Since mid-July, the petition to free Gao Zhisheng has recorded over 110,000 signatures, calling for his release from the custody of the Chinese government.

According to a ChinaAid contact, Press Secretary Baodong from the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC recently asserted that Gao Zhisheng was officially held on charges for attacking the Chinese government, and was released on parole in August. Inside resources with ChinaAid can confirm that Gao is alive, but his condition and whereabouts are still unknown.

On September 8, 2009, eleven Members of the US House of Representatives issued a letter to President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China, requesting him to uphold rule of law in China, according to the Chinese Constitution and their international agreements.

Congressional letter to Chinese President Hu JIntao. (ChinaAid photo) Caption Three: ChinaAid president Bob Fu and Gao Zhisheng’s wife Geng He present the first installment of the petition with more than 50,000 signatures to Senator Byron Dorgan. (ChinaAid photo)

The bipartisan letter, signed among others by Congressmen Frank Wolf and Chris Smith, specifically addresses the prolonged absence of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. View the Congressional Letter to President Hu Jintao at www.ChinaAid.org.

In a media release, ChinaAid says: “We thank all FreeGao supporters for your concerns and contributions, and ask that you continue to raise awareness of Gao’s case until he is freed, with his full rights as a Chinese citizen lawfully restored. While the Chinese government has verbally decided to acknowledge the case, there can be no resolution with his absence and unknown condition still weighing on the minds and hearts of his supporters.

“Thanks to your help, ChinaAid has persisted in meeting and working with concerned officials from governments of the free world, presenting the petition signatures as a sign of international support — and Gao Zhisheng’s case has not been forgotten.”

ChinaAid says Gao’s story of persecution is only one of many. But it is also a key story in exposing the truth behind China’s Communist regime and its abuse of human rights.

ChinaAid says The Free Gao Campaign will continue gathering petition signatures and presenting them to authorities, and will not relent until Gao’s whereabouts and safety are known.

Below is the wording of the petition addressed to the attention to Chinese Ambassador Mr. Zhou Wenzhong.

“We are aware that Chinese authorities have detained Christian attorney Gao Zhisheng since February 4, 2009. He was at the home of relatives in his hometown in Shaanxi province when more than a dozen Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers forcibly took him away. He is being held at an undisclosed location.

“Gao Zhisheng is a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Chinese army veteran and prominent Christian attorney. He cares deeply for the nation of China, and is a loyal citizen. Since 2005, Gao has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities for his work defending those persecuted for their faith. He, his wife and two children have been monitored and tormented by authorities for more than two years.

“We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about Gao Zhisheng’s welfare and why he is being detained. This act of arbitrary detention itself is in violation of Chinese law.

“We are praying for the leaders of China and formally request that you release Gao Zhisheng immediately. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.”

To see the latest information, latest signature totals on the petition, photos and more, go to www.FreeGao.com .

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Trial Date set for Imprisoned Christian Alimujiang Yimiti

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

XINJIANG, CHINA (ANS) — Alimujiang Yimiti is a Uyghur Christian prisoner who has been arbitrarily detained at Kashi Municipal Detention center since January 12, 2008, charged with “revealing state secrets or intelligence to overseas organizations.”

According to ChinaAid (www.chinaaid.org ) his trial date has been set for tomorrow (Tuesday, July 28).

Alimujiang Yimiti (ChinaAid photo).

ChinaAid contacts say the reason for his imprisonment is his Christian faith and witness among the Uyghur people. The group says the international community is monitoring Alimujiang’s case closely.

In a media release, ChinaAid says that the UK government, the European Commission, the European Union, the UN, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing are closely involved in multilateral and bilateral human rights dialogues urging China to act according to international human rights laws that China has signed.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has investigated Alimujiang’s case, and issued Opinion No. 29/2008 on September 12, 2008, stating that Alimujiang Yimiti’s detention for more than one year is arbitrary and that the Chinese government should take the necessary steps to correct the situation.

ChinaAid says it has been in communication with those close to the case.

The group says that according to sources, Alimujiang’s wife Guli Nuer was notified on July 14 by the court in Kashgar that the trial for her husband would be held on the morning of July 28.

On July 23 (Beijing time) Guli Nuer and their two children traveled to Kashgar in order to attend the trial. However, authorities informed her that neither she nor Alimujiang’s mother will be allowed to attend the trial, which will be held at the Intermediate People’s Court of Kashgar.

ChinaAid says the only ones permitted to attend the trial are two attorneys who are representing Alimujiang Yimiti, Li Dunyong and Liang Xiaojun.

According to ChinaAid contacts, Guli Nuer was warned by the Xinjiang People’s Procuratorate (Gaoji Jiancha Yuan) in Urumqi that she should not have become involved advocating and speaking out about her husband’s case. Officials also told her that Alimjiang will not be released without charges.

ChinaAid president Bob Fu said: “Alimujiang is an innocent, law-abiding citizen. He has been a peacemaker between Han Chinese and Uyghurs. He has even been sending his children intentionally to study Mandarin in school, even though they are Uyghurs, in order encourage them to be peacemakers.

“The recent violent riots in Xinjiang have shown that there is a great need for stability in the region. The Chinese Christians, including the Uyghur Christians in Xinjiang, have never been involved in violent activities in Xinjiang. The Chinese government should show they are seeking stability by releasing Alimujiang Yimiti.”

ChinaAid also says that another Uyghur Christian, Mr. Wusiman Yiming is also in prison in Xinjiang. He was sentenced to two years of re-education through labor in September 2007 for “revealing state secrets” and “illegal proselytizing.”

Sources say that the real reason he was sentenced was because of his boldness as a Christian and a leader in the Uyghur church. Sources report that he has aged dramatically in the labor camp and his health is deteriorating due to harsh conditions.

Bob Fu stated: “We call upon the Chinese government to immediately release Alimujiang Yimiti and Wusiman Yiming, and bring justice to their illegal detentions which are in violation of both international law and China’s own criminal law code.”

Concerned believers are asked to contact the following Chinese government offices and the Chinese embassy to express your concern for Alimujiang Yimiti and Wusiman Yiming. The Xinjiang offices are generally open 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. — 6 p.m. local time in China.

Xinjiang Government Leadership Office Tel./Fax: +86- 991-280-3226
Xinjiang Government Law Management Office Tel./Fax: +86-991-235-6033

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

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

Please contact: Katherine@ChinaAid.org  with questions or requests for further information.

ChinaAid Calls for Prayer and Action on Behalf of Imprisoned Christian Publisher Shi Weihan

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) — ChinaAid calls on the international community to pray and act on behalf of imprisoned Christian house church leader Shi Weihan.

Shi Weihan

According to a media release from the ministry, on June 10 the Beijing Court found Shi Weihan, age 38, guilty of “illegal business operation” and sentenced him to three years in prison and 150,000 Yuan fine (about $22,000 USD) for printing and distributing Bibles at no cost.

ChinaAid (www.ChinaAid.org ) says six others stood trial together with Shi Weihan, and also received criminal sentences for “illegal business operation.”

Tian Hongxia, who worked for Shi Weihan, was fined three years in prison and 150,000 yuan. The other five sentenced were Li Fengshan, Zhou Xin, Cheng Xiaojing, Lű Yuequan and Li Zong, all shareholders and employees of Xinshu Printing Company Ltd. of Beijing, the printing company which printed the Bibles and Christian books.

ChinaAid says their sentences range from one to two years with fines from 60,000 yuan to 120,000 yuan.

ChinaAid recently received the Criminal Judgment from Haidian District People’s Court of Beijing Municipality for Shi Weihan and the other six who were sentenced. Click here to read it. www.chinaaid.org/downloads/sb_chinaaid/ShiWeihanssentencingedit.pdf.

ChinaAid president, Bob Fu stated, “Most of the books Shi Weihan published were Bibles and Christian books. He distributed them free of charge, because the Chinese government does not permit Bibles to be sold in public bookstores, and there is a great need for them. We call upon Christian book authors and those who placed orders for printing Bibles and Christian literature to speak out for Shi and his family.”

Shi Weihan’s wife Zhang Jing and their two daughters, 12-year-old Shi Jia and 8-year-old Shi En Mei, are under tremendous pressure from authorities. Shi’s wife has hired Christian lawyer Li Fangping to represent him and to appeal the verdict. The appeal process could take up to one year.

Concerned believers are asked to contact the Chinese embassy and request that Shi Weihan and the other six sentenced be immediately released, and that government authorities allow Bibles and Christian literature to be printed and freely distributed in China.

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

Read the Criminal Judgment from Haidian District People’s Court of Beijing Municipality against Shi Weihan here: www.chinaaid.org/downloads/sb_chinaaid/ShiWeihanssentencingedit.pdf  

Please contact: Katherine@ChinaAid.org  with questions or requests for further information. 267-210-8278.

Washington contact, Jenny McCloy, 202-213-0506, Jenny@ChinaAid.org