Persecution Watchdog Calls for UK Churches to Support China Four Appeal

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today has launched an appeal calling for all Christians across the UK's churches to sign up to a campaign hoping to free four pastors being held by authorities in China simply for the "offence" of following their Christian faith.

Li Ming, Jin Jirong, Wang Yuan and Li Mingbo were arrested in June, CSW explain. They had visited the local police station to try to secure the release of 14 of their church members who had been arrested on their way home from church.

Li Ming, Jin Jirong, Wang Yuan and Li Mingbo were arrested in June.

According to eyewitness reports, 66-year-old Pastor Jin Jirong was beaten by the police. Soon after, more police arrived and Pastor Li Ming was also assaulted.

When Li Ming cried out "You are killing me" the police tried to choke him in order to get him to be quiet. They then bundled him into a police car and transferred him to a detention centre.

Pastor Wang Yuan was also beaten until he was not able to move. He could not stop vomiting and needed medical treatment. However, the police said he was feigning illness and sent him to the detention centre, according to CSW's eye witness.

|QUOTE|In July of this year, the four pastors stood trial and were sentenced to 2 years "re-education through labour".

They are currently imprisoned in Langzhong Detention Centre. The director of the detention centre was reported as saying the centre was "built for Christians".

The four men have not been allowed to read the Bible since they were sent to the detention centre. The officers even forbade them from using biblical terms when they communicated with their families, explain CSW.

However, through their lawyers, they are demanding their right to read the Bible in the detention centre and asking that a suitable place inside the detention centre be provided for regular Sunday services.

CSW National Director, Stuart Windsor, has said: "These four men are likely to face twelve to eighteen hours hard labour each day, as well as mental and physical punishment. Despite their hardship, they are still asking for the right to read their Bibles and to meet together. We are urging churches across the UK to stand in solidarity with these four brave men by joining the campaign calling for their release."