04/06/2022 China (International Christian Concern) – On March 27, two members of Xuncheng Reformed Church, previously sentenced and imprisoned for more than six months for attending a Christian conference in Malaysia, were released.
Zhang Ligong and Wang Runyun from the house church in Taiyuan became the last two prisoners to be released from the same case. Wang Shiqiang and Zhang Yaowen were released on Feb 27, while Song Shoushan was released on January 27.
Family members and church friends welcomed their release at the detention center. Wang was joyful as he embraced his son and daughter. He shared on social media, “My family, we are home! Just letting you know we are well! Thank you all for your prayers during this time. We are grateful!”
The five Christians, along with their minister, An Yankui, and another member Zhang Chenghao, attended the “KL2020 Gospel and Culture” conference in Malaysia in January 2020. Even with proper travel documents, the Chinese government still regarded their trip to Malaysia as illegal and hit them with fabricated charges on December 28, 2021.
Despite being detained for several months already, the five Christians’ sentences were not formalized until January 7 this year, when Fenyang city court in Shanxi province sentenced Song, Wang S., Zhang Y., Zhang L., and Wang R. to six months, seven months (two of them), and eight months (two of them) respectively.
On the other hand, Minister An Yankui and Zhang Chenghao were detained last November for “illegal border crossing” as well, although they have not been sentenced. They are currently detained at Xiaoyi City Detention Center. It is likely that An and Zhang will receive similar sentences, if not more.
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