Release International

The torture of four missionaries in China's Yunan province has provoked a wave of international protest.

Ten police officers reportedly took turns over six hours to attack the four who were arrested in Wuyi township near Jinghong City, on suspicion of 'superstitious activity'. One of the two female missionaries had her hair ripped out. The four were then left handcuffed to chairs for 12 hours. When they were finally released, 24 hours after their arrest, they could barely walk, according to China Aid.

The missionaries -- Xing Baoying, Wang Guizhen, Li Jianying and Li Tuying -- have since said that they thought they would die in the interrogation room.

It is only six months since Xing Baoying and Wang Guizhen, who are husband and wife, were released from prison camp after two years' hard labour for religious activities. They were brutally tortured on their arrest in 2004.

Meanwhile, a pastor of the officially sanctioned Three-Self Church in Pinglu County, Shanxi province, has been thrown out by the Religious Affairs Bureau. Pastor Hu Qinghua was expelled after inviting an American missionary to preach to his congregation.

• Pray for healing for the four missionaries tortured in Yunan province. Thank God for their courage and refusal to be bowed by pressure from the authorities.
• Thank God that, even in China's officially recognised churches, there are men and women of God such as Pastor Hu committed to religious freedom. Pray that Pastor Hu would find another spiritual home quickly.

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