Christian Youth Camp and House Church Raided in Shandong, Five Christians Sentenced to Detention
ICC Note:
Five Chinese Christians are still being held by police after authorities raided a Christian youth camp and arrested 28 youth and four adult workers on July 13. Claiming that "it is forbidden for children under 18 to believe Christianity," police interrogated and beat the youth in the police station before releasing all but those who had organized the camp - including one 16-year-old.
7/14/09 China (ChinaAid) On July 13 at 10:30 a.m. (Beijing time) town police and State Security Brigade officers surrounded a Christian youth camp and arrested 28 Christian youth and four adult church workers in Hubin town, Tengzhou city, Shandong province.
Authorities confiscated the Christians’ property, including projectors, televisions, computers, computer tables, musical instruments, audio equipment, furniture and other items. The police also seized the students’ mobile phones, Bibles and other daily necessities. One eyewitness told ChinaAid that during the raid, the police told the Christian leaders that, “It is forbidden for those under 18 to believe Christianity, and even those above 18 years old are not allowed to organize or participate in religious activities without permission.”
The police interrogated, threatened and beat Christian youth in the Hubin police station, then released the majority of Christians. However, the five Christians who organized the camp, including one who is 16 years old, are still being held by the Tengzhou Public Security Bureau. The police did not provide the five Christians with food or water for almost two days, and the Christians were suffering from hunger and dehydration. Around 4:30 p.m. on July 14, church members who realized the situation immediately delivered bread and water to the prison. On July 14, authorities sentenced each of the five Christians to 5-15 days of administrative detention for “engaging in illegal activities.” On the administrative detention notices, the Bible is listed as evidence for this charge.
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ChinaAid contacts ask for prayer for the Christian youth who are still in a state of shock, and for the five Christians in prison. They are:
• Mr. Wang Chang-Yin, born 1971, sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention
• Mr. Qiu Jia-Cun, born 1965, sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention
• Mr. Gong Cun-Ling, born 1985, sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention
• Miss Wang Si-Ping, born 1990, sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention
• Mr. Shao Yuju, born 1993, sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention
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