Beijing detention center releases ten Christians, 3 still jailed
Ten Christians from the Beijing Holy Love Fellowship were released after their initial detention on Jan. 24 in China’s capital; however, three Christians are still held at the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Detention Center.
photo China Aid
Lu Dongli, Zhang Haiyan and Yu Yanhua remain in custody following their January detainment on Jan. 24 for attending a Bible study and tending to illnesses of others.
The China Aid report chronicled that Church elder Xu Yonghai and Yang Jing were released first and “The following day, Xu Caihong, Yang Qiuyu, Yang Min, Xu Xiaoling, Wang Sue, Kang Suping, Wang Chunyan and Zhang Wenhe were released. Charges of “holding an illegal assembly” were dropped. Liang Yanhe was previously released, however little is known of the situation surrounding her discharge. Additionally, Wang Biao and his son, who were visiting from Tianjin, were sent home at an unknown time.”
China Aid also published reports speculating on the crack down.
“Some believers have speculated that this crackdown on Christians in Beijing comes as part of an attempt to maintain stability as the Chinese New Year approaches. Another part of the attempt to maintain stability is the recent trial of civil rights group New Citizens’ Movement founder Xu Zhiyong and the arrest of other members of the group.”
The various accounts by those released describe the minimal food given to prisoners, the lack of medical care for illnesses such as heart disease and threats against their relatives or friends.
