Most Arrested in July Raid Released; Court Document Available Online

18 August 2004

Following an international outcry, most of the hundred Christian leaders arrested on July 12 in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region have been released. According to VOM sources, five Christians remain in custody. They are: Mr. Zhao Xinlan, 50; Ms. Li Cuiling, 44; Mr. Wang Chaoyi, 39; Mr. Yang Tian Lu, 39; and Ms. Gao Rui'er, 28.

On August 11, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the sentencing of three Christians for "illegally soliciting, providing national intelligence to overseas organizations" (click here for details). This week, China Aid was able to obtain a copy of the court documents outlining the reasons for their conviction. To view this document, click here. Chinese readers may wish to click here.

PSB Officer The Voice of the Martyrs has also received information that, following the arrest of more than one hundred Christians on August 6 (click here for details), other family members have also been arrested. The families of six of those arrested have also received formal notice of the "criminal detention" of their family members. Chinese law allows detentions for up to three years without formal charges.

Pray for spiritual and physical strength for all of those arrested. Pray that the international community will pressure the Chinese government to respect freedom of religious expression.

The Voice of the Martyrs has been active through its "Legal Defense Fund" in assisting the families of Chinese prisoners of faith with their legal fees as they seek to fight their unjust sentences. If you would like to help in this ministry, you can go to our secure donation page (click here) and designate your gift to VOM's "Legal Defense Fund." Thank you for your help in this way.

For more information on the persecution of the Chinese Church, click here.

China

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.