Zhang Futao, of Group Five, Nangou Village, in the town of Beigou, in Xinyi city, is now hospitalized in critical condition and fighting for his life after suffering severe head injuries from the beating by the family planning officials who burst into his home at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday (May 15). They then kidnapped Zhang to Tashan Brigade and made his family pay a ransom.

The family immediately took him to the emergency room of the Linyi city People's Hospital, where he was found to have a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. He had lost 100 milliliters (100 cc) of blood and might have died in an hour if his family had not brought him to the hospital.

Zhang is the family's sole breadwinner. He and his wife have three children, two girls aged 12 and four years old, and a boy of six. His mother died 11 years ago, and his father is in poor health, is deaf and is hunchbacked. The cost for the surgery Zhang needs is estimated at between 10,000 RMB (US$1,630) and 20,000 RMB (US$3260). The family is appealing for help from society. Police have already started an investigation.

ChinaAid is shocked that that more violent crimes in the name of family planning are coming to light this year and calls on the church and Christians to express their concern and to pray, as well as to help these victims in concrete ways so as to shine a light of love in the face of the darkness of society and the Chinese government. Glory be to the name of our Lord.