Contact: Bob Fu, China Aid Association, 267-205-5210, info@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.monitorChina.org

MIDLAND, Texas, Dec. 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- China Aid Association learns that after almost 12-hour marathon pre-Christmas trial on December 22, 2006(Beijing Time), 8 House Church Christians in Zhejiang were quickly sentenced from 3 and half years to one year in prison by the People's Court of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou city.

Photo: Destroyed Xiaoshan Church

The trial started at 8:30am and ended at 9pm. The verdict is clearly prepared by the government in advance before the actual trial started. During the trial, the 75-year-old Elder Shen Chengyi fell on the ground in the court and lost consciousness. He was sent to the hospital for emergent treatment. Pastor Shen Zhuke(Elder Shen's daughter) received 3 and half years sentence; pastor Wang Weiliang, three years; brother Feng Guangliang, two years and brother Luo Bingliang, one year. The other four including elder Shen Chengyi, brother Ni Weimin, brother Shen Jianjian, brother Guo Lijun were sentenced to imprisonment from 1 to 3 years but postpone to carry out. So they are likely to be released.

Meanwhile, in another prominent case, the Beijing Intermediate Court sentenced the well-known Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng for three years but postpone to carry out for 5 years. Gao was arrested on August 18 this year for his human rights advocacy work.

"Though today's sentence against the faithful is less heavy than expected because of the international pressure, yet it is not acceptable, "said Bob Fu, "the international community should urge the Chinese government to release those innocent House Church believers immediately."

 Issued by CAA on December 22, 2006