China Aid reports: “5 Linfen-Fushan Church Leaders Sentenced to Re-Education through Labor Without Trial”

“SHANXI–After the Chinese government sentenced five church leaders to 3 to 7 years criminal detention on Wednesday, November 25th, ChinaAid learned that on November 30, 2009, five more church leaders from Linfen Church, Shanxi, were each sentenced to two years in re-education through labor camps–an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Public Security Bureau enacted so the leaders would not be ‘required’ to go through the court and prosecution system. The sentence was said to be effective from November 11th, when they were already detained.”

“The five Christian leaders are Mr. Li Shuangping, Ms. Yang Hongzhen, Ms. Yang Caizhen (whose husband, Pastor Yang Xuan received 3 years sentence by the court on November 25), Ms. Gao Qin (also known as Gao Fuqin), and Ms. Zhao Guoai. Among the five, ChinaAid has confirmed three members’ 2-year re-education through labor sentences through family members, including Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Mr. Li Shuangping.”

“The other two members’ sentences were confirmed indirectly by Linfen-Fushan church leaders. These two latter cases were very difficult to confirm definitively at the time, because the family members have been held under severe government surveillance. The five church leaders were accused of  “gathering people to disturb the public order,” referring to their organization of a one-thousand-believer prayer rally held on September 14, the day after the church was attacked by over 400 military police. (Click here to view the video of the Prayer rally held on 9/14/2009.) 17 church buildings were destroyed and over 30 believers were seriously wounded during the unprecedented mob attack in the early morning of Sunday, September 13. Linfen House Church Christians continue to be monitored by Chinese military police, including neighboring Golden Lampstand Church (Jin Dongtai) in Linfen City.”