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Alimujiang Yimiti
Photo from ChinaAid

The People's High Court of the Xinjiang in Urumqi, China, recently upheld the 15-year prison sentence of Alimujiang Yimiti, an imprisoned Uyghur house-church leader (click here for information). Alim, a convert from Islam to Christianity, has been detained since January 2008 and convicted of "instigating separatism and revealing state secrets to foreigners." Those close to the case have insisted on his complete innocence. In 2009, a United Nations Working Group declared that Alim was detained "solely on account of his faith." His case was accepted for review in November 2010, raising hopes that the injustice of his case might finally be revealed. In mid-February, however, he received a notice informing him that his sentenced was being upheld--a sentence which is reportedly the harshest given to a Christian in a decade. The news comes as a blow to his wife and children, who have had little contact with him since his detention.

Pray for true justice to be upheld in Alim's case. Pray he will be released. Pray his family will look to the Lord as their ever-constant source of comfort and guidance. Pray that, even in chains, Alim will continue to rejoice in the love of the Father, who hears the cries of His children and serves as their strength and shield (Psalm 28:6-7).

Find out more about the persecution of Christians in China at the China Country Report.

Current Ministry Projects

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians within China, making it possible for them to have their own print version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, presenting Chinese believers with effective ways in which they can respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Bible (Distribution), Equipping the Saints, Underground Church

Country Information

Designation
Persecuted

Population
1,397,897,720 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.6), Zhuang (1.3), Other (7.1)

Religion (%)
Buddhism (18.3), Christianity (5.2), Islam (1.8), folk religion (21.9), Muslim (2) Hinduism (<0.1), Judaism (<0.1), other (0.7), unaffiliated (51.8)

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.

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