Press Release
9 July 2008

CONCERN GROWS FOR IMPRISONED CHINESE CHRISTIAN: OPEN DOORS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN ON HIS BEHALF

Open Doors are urging their supporters to send a letter to the Chinese Ambassador to request the immediate release of Shi Weihan (37) a Christian bookshop-owner in Beijing who has been in prison since March without proper legal representation or medical attention.

Shi Weihan was first arrested in November 2007. He was released in January as there was 'insufficient evidence'. But on 19 March, he was re-arrested for publishing Bibles and Christian literature.

Under his Holy Spirit Trading Company, Shi ran a Christian bookstore, a printing press and travel agency. The bookstore is located near the Olympic Village. His bookstore operated legally and it sold only books for which he had obtained government permission.His printing press, however, printed Bibles and Christian literature without authorization for distribution to local house churches. Last January, Shi was concerned about publishing the unauthorized books, but because the churches needed them, he felt the risk was worth taking.

Shi had no plans to protest during the Olympics Games. Shi and his home church have been free to worship and have been under no pressure to stop the church or register it.

The China Aid Association (CAA) reported on 28 April that authorities were holding Shi at the Beijing Municipal Detention Centre as a “dangerous religious element.” He has not been visited by his family – his wife and two daughters. His wife, Zhang Jing, has received no word on her husband’s condition, and she has been prevented from bringing him any food or clothing since his re-arrest. Until the end of April, Shi had also been denied a visit from his lawyer.

It is reported that the months of separation from her husband, anxiety about his health condition, and having to manage her family without Shi, have left Zhang suffering from depression. Their two daughters have become very emotional and cry constantly because they have not seen their father for months now.

On 19 June the three-month deadline for a hearing expired but Shi’s hearing never took place as expected on the last day. Therefore, Shi is now being held illegally.

Many are concerned about Shi’s health as he has diabetes. The CAA reported that Shi’s attorney said he was in dire need of medical attention. “However, the detention centre authorities refused to provide medications or even the most basic humanitarian treatment,” the organisation said.

Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, said: “Open Doors is joining with others to urge China to let this man go, so he can be reunited with his family. With the Olympic Games just a month away, it is vital that China demonstrates its respect for human rights and religious liberty.”

Open Doors is urging Christians to write to Fu Ying, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, to express their concern, asking her to urge the Chinese government to either release Shi Weihan immediately or ensure that he receives medical attention, access to legal representation and a judicial hearing as a matter of urgency.

Further details of Open Doors' advocacy campaign »