They hate you because of me - Almost two years ago, I posted about the arrest of Dr. Xu Yonghai.
He was arrested for investigating Christian persecution by the Chinese government. They charged him and Liu Fenggang with revealing state secrets.
China Aid Association notifies us that Dr. Yonghai has been released but is under constant surveillance and suffering from heart problems. Here is the press release:
Contact: Bob Fu, China Aid Association, 267-205-5210, 432-689-6985, info@ChinaAid.org
MIDLAND, Texas, Feb.13 /Christian Wire Service/ -- China Aid Association learned that the freedom of a prominent Christian rights activist was restricted by Chinese security agents after his release from a two-year prison term.
Dr. Xu Yonghai, a former psychiatric doctor at Beijing Pingan Hospital has been closely surveilled after his release from a Hangzhou Prison, Zhejiang Province on January 29, 2006.
According to Xu's own account to CAA, before his release the Chinese security agents installed three video cameras in front of his apartment [in] order to monitor his activities and his identification cards were not returned to him. Xu's wife, Ms. Li Shanna, refused to sign a form demanding she report her husband's activities to the Chinese authorities.
Dr. Xu Yonghai, a prominent Christian psychiatrist was arrested in Beijing on November 9, 2003 because of his active role in defending religious freedom for persecuted Christian believers in China.
As a result, Xu along with two other individuals, Mr. Liu Fenggang - 48 and Zhang Shengqi - 30, were charged under Article 111 of the Criminal Law with "providing state secrets to foreign organizations," and tried in secret on March 16, 2004 by Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang Province. On August 6, 2004, the court sentenced Liu Fenggang to three years, Xu Yonghai to two years, and Zhang Shengqi to one year.
According to the indictment by the procuratorate the three were charged in connection with Liu Fenggang's decision to write, disseminate, and publicize several reports written over a two-year period, documenting the destruction of churches and the harsh treatment suffered by members of underground congregations.
Xu told CAA that Mr. Liu Fenggang's health is deteriorating because of his heart condition. Mr. Zhang Shengqi was released on February 7, 2005.
Dr. Xu and his wife both lost their jobs at the hospital after Xu's arrest.
Don't fail to hold our Christian brothers and sisters in such situations before the throne of our Father in Heaven.
The Great Separation continues.
For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Persecution Blog is a good source.
