Contact: Katherine Cason, 267-210-8278, Katherine@ChinaAid.org; Washington DC contact: Jenny McCloy, 202-213-0506, Jenny@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.MonitorChina.org
XINJIANG, April 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- At 6 p.m. on April 24, Pastor Lou Yuanqi of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was released from prison under the provision of "bailed out waiting for trial," a legal procedure called "qu bao hou shen." Though this provision allows for future arrest and prosecution, Pastor Lou was released and permitted to return home. The provision's purpose is also to prevent Pastor Lou or his family from filing an administrative lawsuit against the state for compensation for illegal detention time. Xinjiang authorities could not find evidence sufficient to continue his prosecution and indictment. According to family members, Pastor Lou looked fragile, because of the horrible conditions he suffered in prison. He suffers from hepatitis B, and is in great need of medical attention.
Photo: Pastor Lou Yuanqi
Pastor Lou's faith is very strong, and he, his wife Wang Wenxiu and their three children are overwhelmed by the response from the international community.
Pastor Lou was first detained on May 17, 2008 at 1 p.m. in Qingshuihe town, Huocheng county of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Pastor Lou stood trial on December 15, 2008 on charges of "utilizing superstition to undermine the law." Those close to the case say the authorities' motivation for the charge was to stop Lou's house church from meeting in his home. Immediately after Lou's trial, his daughter, Lou Tiantian, 18, was beaten by court police when she tried to speak with her father as he was being put into a police car.
Later, the court issued a statement, declaring "the facts [in Pastor Lou's case] unclear and the evidence insufficient." Despite this ruling, Pastor Lou continued to be imprisoned until his release on April 24.
Two other Xinjiang Christians, Alimujiang Yimiti and Wusiman Yiming, are currently suffering in prison for their faith.
Alimujiang Yimiti, a Uyghur Christian, was first detained on the charge of "endangering the security of the state, " then was officially arrested on February 20, 2008 for "suspicion of inciting secession and organizing people in stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing state secrets or intelligence to overseas organizations." However, sources say the real reason for his detention is because of his Christian faith and witness among the Uyghur people. Alimujiang was seen March 31 around 10 a.m. (local time) at Nongsanshi (Military Farm) Hospital in Kashgar. His hands were bound and he was observed being roughly escorted by police and a prison doctor while repeatedly crying out to onlookers in Chinese, "I'm sick. Tell my lawyer to come quickly to see me."
Wusiman Yiming, another Uyghur Christian, was sentenced to two years of re-education through labor in September 2007 for "revealing state secrets" and "illegal proselytizing." ChinaAid sources say that he was, in fact, sentenced because of his boldness as a Christian and a leader in the Uyghur church. Sources report that he has aged dramatically in the labor camp and his health is deteriorating due to harsh conditions.
"We welcome the release of this innocent pastor who has been arbitrarily detained for more than a year simply for his Christian faith related activities," said Bob Fu. "We urge the Xinjiang authorities to release other innocent people of faith such as Alimujiang Yimiti and Wusiman Yiming."
Contact the following Chinese government offices to express your appreciation for the release of Pastor Lou Yuanqi and to urge authorities to immediately release Alimujiang Yimiti and Wusiman Yiming. Offices are generally open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. local time in China.
Xinjiang Government Leadership Office Tel./Fax: +86-991-280-3226
Xinjiang Government Law Management Office Tel./Fax: +86-991-235-6033
Ms. Wu Aiying, minister of Ministry of Justice of PRC
Tel: +86-10-65205114
Fax: +86 10 8313 9051
E-mail: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn
Address: No. 10, Nan Da Jie, Chaoyangmen, Beijing City, (Zip Code: 100020), CHINA
Contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.:
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 495-2190
Send a letter of encouragement to Pastor Lou at his home:
Pastor Lou Yuanqi
No. 13, Hainan Road, Yi Xiaodui, Yi Dadui
Qing Shui He town, Huocheng county
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Katherine@ChinaAid.org with questions or requests for further information.
