China: Hua Huiqi Freed from Jail
Aug 07 2007
Postings >> China

Beijing house church activist Hua Huiqi has been freed from jail -- as security officials
continue their crackdown on 'illegal' church gatherings.

Hua Huiqi, who was arrested with his elderly mother Shuang Shuying, was given a sixmonth
sentence for 'obstructing justice' at a secret court in June. The pair were seized and
beaten as they walked through Beijing's Olympic Village together in January.

Shuang Shuying, who was given a two-year sentence for 'wilfully damaging public and
private property', remains in prison and is reported to be in poor health.

Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities continue to flex their muscles. Military police seized a
pastor, another pastor's wife and two visiting missionaries from Henan province in a raid
on a private home in Wuhai city, Inner Mongolia, on July 14.

And the Zhongzhuang house church in Jianhu city, Jiangsu province, was raided in the
middle of its 'Harmony express' Bible summer school. Ten vehicles rounded on the church,
spilling out representatives of the county government, the Public Security Bureau, police
and the legally recognised Three-Self Patriotic Movement church.

During the raid, two teachers were badly hurt and ten people were arrested, including the
pastor and some Bible teachers. All ten were later released, reports China Aid.

Act:

• Download and sign our online petition calling on the Chinese government to respect religious freedoms for all and encourage your church to do the same. Visit www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/current-campaign.php or call 01689 823491.

Pray:

• Thank God that Hua Huiqi is free. Pray that he will be able to continue his work upholding the rights of poor people and persecuted Christians. Pray for the swift release of Shuang Shuying -- apparently jailed to punish her son.
• Pray for the release of the four Christians detained in Inner Mongolia on July 14.