Human Rights Lawyer Released

VOM USA 08 June 2017

Li Heping (right) next to his brother,
Li Chunfu, after his release.

After nearly two years in prison, Christian human rights lawyer Li Heping returned home to his family this May. Li was arrested in July 2015, along with a group of other attorneys, for defending evangelical believers and others targeted by the government. Li was convicted of "subversion of state power" in a secret trial and was tortured repeatedly during his two-year imprisonment.

His brother, Li Chunfu, who was arrested at the same time, was so tormented in prison that he was released early (May 9th) after showing signs of mental illness. Li himself is weak and thin, but his wife reports that he is in good spirits and delighted to be reunited with his family. Many human rights lawyers in China are Christians who act out of personal conviction which often puts them at odds with government authorities. Pray that Li Heping and his brother, Li Chunfu, will be fully restored to health.

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.