Release International

Two Christians have been given tough jail sentences for helping North Korean refugees flee to South Korea through China.

Li Mingshun and Zhang Yonghu were given ten- and seven-year sentences respectively for providing food, shelter and transport to 61 refugees crossing northern China into Inner Mongolia. State laws in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China, allow people to seek asylum in South Korea – but, for the rest of China, the policy is to repatriate North Korean refugees by force.

On August 30, the Erlianhaote City People's Court found Li guilty of 'human smuggling across the border'. She was arrested in Heilongjiang province, as the refugees crossed into neighbouring Inner Mongolia. Zhang was convicted of helping to transport refugees. Li's family plan to appeal against both convictions, according to ASSIST News Service.

China has come in for fierce criticism over its policy of repatriating North Korean refugees. It considers them to be economic migrants rather than refugees. Yet, North Korean defectors who are repatriated are reported to face brutal treatment, even execution.

(Sources: ASSIST News Service, YonhapNews)

• Pray that Li and Zhang's appeal will be heard quickly and will be successful.
• Pray that the Chinese authorities will choose to distance themselves from Pyongyang's repressive regime by relaxing their policy on asylum-seekers.

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