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• April 16, 2008 | Hetian, Xinjiang
  Wusiman Yiming's appeal was denied, and his sentence to two years of re-education was upheld. Wusiman (Osman Imin in Uyghur) was accused of "assisting foreigners in illegal activities."
  
  
• March 30, 2008 | Bameng, Tianxing, Qu, Sichuan
  House church leaders Lei Shibi and Wan Chaobi as well as host of Sunday worship Li Xianbi, Yan Chuanfang, Yu Liyu, two elderly women, and four children were detained after a morning Sunday school service let out. The pastors were accused of being "suspected of using evil cult to obstruct the enforcement of the law." The others were sentenced to five days of administrative detention for "illegal gathering for evil cult activities."
  Later in the day at the same house church, police arrested Xiao Yu and Li Chixia "for organizing or utilizing superstitious sects or secret societies to undermine the implementation of law." After 12 days of detention, Xiao was released pending trial. On April 29, Li was sentenced to one year of re-education through labor.
  
  
• Spring 2008 | Weifang, Shandong
  Officials raided House Church Seminary. They beat Fan Meiling, ordered students to return home, and confiscated academic materials. Teacher Jin Xiuxiang and seminary principal Lu Zhaojun were detained, released, then redetained after they inquired about confiscated goods. They have been sentenced to a month of criminal detention. Zhang Yage, another teacher, was detained after officials attacked the seminary.
  
  
• March 29, 2008 | Bameng Village, Sichuan Qujiang, Qu, Sichuan
  House church leaders Wang Qingxiu, Wan Huabi, as well as members Wang Zhenping, Zhou Yanmei, Luo Qinghua, and Zhang Mingxiu were detained after their house church service was disrupted. Wang Qingxiu was accused of "undermining the implementation of state law and regulations by utilizing a cult organization" and sentenced on April 29 to one year of re-education through labor. Zhang was sentenced to five days of administrative detention. Luo was detained for 17 days, and then she was acquitted.
  
  
• March 19, 2008 | Beijing
  Shi Weihan was arrested for publishing Bibles and other Christian literature. He has been tortured in prison and his health is seriously deteriorating.
  
  
• March, 2008 | Heilongjiang
  Activist Yang Chunlin was sentenced to five years "for initiating the petition 'Human Rights before Olympics.'"
  
  
• February 28, 2008 | Xinjiang
  An 18-year-old girl and a 20-year-old boy (minors under Chinese law) were detained without notice. Their parents were informed they would be released when they denied their Christian faith.
  
  
• December 17, 2007 | Hedeng, Linyi, Shandong
  270 house church leaders were detained for an "illegal religious gathering."
  
  
• December 2007 | Gansu
  Two prominent house church leaders were detained while conducting a church service.
  
  

Compiled by Scott Flipse, director, East Asia & Pacific programs at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Most reports used are from China Aid Association. Go to Christianity Today's website for more of our coverage on China and religious rights.

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October (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52