China Aid wants business sector to speak out on persecution

China Aid Association this week launched a new campaign to raise awareness within China's business sector of religious persecution against Christians.

The campaign is focused on holding businesses in China accountable for their actions to become more socially responsibility.

The initial campaign will focus on Beijing bookstore owner and house church leader, Shi Weihan. In January of 2008, Beijing resident Shi Weihan was arrested under suspicion of printing illegal Christian material.

He has been illegally held in a detention centre in Beijing for more than three months without receiving formal charges or trial, Christian Aid Association reports.

Shi's family members were prohibited from visiting him while in detention and were held back from delivering his diabetes medication.

Exactly 1,161 foreign invested companies within Beijing will be faxed first hand accurate information concerning Shi Weihan and his case. The companies' leaders are urged to take action as part of their corporate social responsibility contract.

Companies include US, Japanese and European-owned corporations.

It is CAA's hope that the business community within Beijing will respond to local authorities inquiring about the situation, encouraging them to treat Shi in a more humane way and even call for his unconditional release.

"As persecution continues to increase with the approach of the Beijing Olympics, it is time for the corporate and business world to stand against human rights violations and take responsibility for their community," said the CAA.

"China Aid Association will be quick and accurate to report both the action and inaction of the companies who receive word of persecutions within their areas of influence."