Release International

Two years after the arrest of Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng, Release is calling on supporters to pray for religious rights lawyers currently detained in China.

There is still no news on the condition or whereabouts of missing Christian attorney Gao Zhisheng who has been in custody since February 4, 2009 – except for a brief re-appearance in March-April 2010.

Dr Fan Yafeng, head of the Chinese Christian Human Rights' Lawyers Association, has been under house arrest since October 12 last year. He was taken in for questioning on December 9 and was tortured repeatedly over several days, according to Release partner China Aid.

In fact, religious rights charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports what it calls 'an increase in the Chinese authorities' use of house arrest to suppress human rights activists in recent months'. The charity cites the decision to award the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo as the trigger for this crackdown. China Aid reports a recent increase in 'physical attacks on lawyers' by Chinese court officials.

Meanwhile, China Aid also reports that a well-known blind legal activist, Chen Guangcheng, and his wife were reportedly severely beaten this week over a YouTube video about their house arrest.

China Aid reports that state security police launched a serious attack on Chen and his wife, Yuan Weijing, at their home in Shandong province – after footage about their house arrest appeared on the internet. It reports that they were confined to their bed after the attack – and denied medical treatment.

Chen has been under house arrest since September when he was released from jail after serving more than four years and three months on criminal charges. His supporters, who include many prominent Christian lawyers, believe he was jailed because of his legal defence of human rights, which has included challenging Shandong officials' alleged use of forced abortion or sterilisation.

China Aid reports that the YouTube footage was obtained through a 'sympathetic government source'.

In the video, Chen and his wife describe their conditions under house arrest for the past five moths as 'prison'. Their home is under 24-hour surveillance from police and 'thugs', and mobile phone jamming devices prevent any communication with the outside world. Most friends and family have been denied access to the home.

(Sources: BBC, China Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, CNN)

• Pray that Chinese officials will end their persecution of religious rights activists and lawyers.
• Pray particularly for the release of Beijing Christian Gao Zhisheng and lawyers and activists such as Dr Fan Yafeng and Chen Guangcheng who are under house arrest.

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