08/10/2022 Taiwan (International Christian Concern) – Jinan Presbyterian Church in Taiwan announced that it would hold a prayer service for Chinese Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng on August 10.
Since his practice began in 1996, Mr. Gao has defended Christians, coal miners, and farmers and has even served the Falun Gong, a religious group based on the practices of Buddhism and Taoism that has been targeted by the Chinese government for ‘threatening social stability.’
The lawyer has received many accolades for his past work, including a nomination for ‘China’s Top 10 Lawyers’ in 2001. Recently, he received the 2020 Lin Zhao Freedom Award from ChinaAid, recognizing his achievements in moving Chinese society forward toward greater democratization and freedom. In addition, Mr. Gao has been nominated for two Nobel Peace Prizes.
Mr. Gao’s efforts to bring justice to the marginalized are considered a threat to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Officials have detained the human rights lawyer in the past, often emotionally and physically abusing him. According to the nonprofit ChinaAid, after his release in 2014, “authorities continued to monitor [Mr. Gao] and deny him medical treatment. On August 23, 2017, Gao Zhisheng escaped from house arrest and headed to Shanxi [Province] with the help of two friends; however, he was arrested by authorities after 23 days in hiding.”
Officials forcibly imprisoned Gao Zhisheng five years ago. News on his whereabouts and condition remain unknown, and his children have not seen him in over ten years.
Please pray for Gao Zhisheng and his family as they await his release.
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