Zhang Mingxuan and Son Jian’s Conditions Updated

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) — For the first time since his disappearance on Oct. 16, Pastor Bike Zhang contacted his eldest son, Zhang Jian, via phone on October 22, from an undisclosed location.

Pastor Bike Zhang (right) and his son, Zhang Jian

China Aid Association (CAA) says Pastor Bike was restricted from disclosing his location as well as further details of where he is being held.

Bike Zhang was able to relay to his son that he was physically detained during a flight by Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers and has been in detention since that time. He is expected to be transported to Nanyang City on October 24.

CAA says the reason for the relocation and action of the PSB is unknown at this time. Pastor Bike’s wife and sister have also been placed under “soft detention” in a PSB-operated Beijing hotel. Both of the women’s cell phones have been confiscated and were restricted from their freedom of travel by authorities.

CAA has also learned that Zhang Jian, elder son of House Church Alliance President, Bike Zhang, was strongly recommended to sign a mediation agreement with Beijing PSB authorities or face imprisonment.

In an e-mail to ANS, CAA says: “The initial agreement was given to Jian to settle his medical reimbursements through the PSB office. Further compounding Jian’s struggle is the fact that the Beijing officials have forced Jian to accept the PSB’s office’s medical evaluation of his injuries rather than that of an objective medical professional.

“China’s Government only recognizes Police Medical reports for the litigation process. Unwilling to be separated from his wife and one-year-old son, Jian chose to sign the agreement which stipulated he had received only minor injuries despite hospital records indicating severe injuries requiring complicated surgery.”

CAA also reports that renowned Beijing attorney, Li Heping, committed to accompany Jian to the PSB office, but was stopped by several PSB officials at the gates of the PSB office in Chaoyang District and prevented from entering the building.
CAA further says that after China Aid reported about the attack against Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan’s family by the Chinese government and hired thugs, American churches and individuals expressed deep concern.

One example is a letter sent from two pastors from Midcities Community Church to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In the letter, the two pastors, representing about 1,500 believers in their congregation, expressed concern regarding the attack and also encouraged others in the international community to speak out, stating that, “We encourage the international community to continue to voice your concern on the increasing religious persecution in China and urge China to honor the spirit of rule of law and her international obligation to respect citizens’ freedom of worship.”

CAA says it will continue to monitor the situation.

Voice your concern for this incident by contacting:
Chinese Ministry of Justice
Wang Lixian
010-65206706

For more information please visit:
www.ChinaAid.org  and www.MonitorChina.org