Pastor imprisoned for nine years!
(Chengdu,
Sichuan—Dec. 30, 2019) Chengdu authorities sentenced Pastor Wang Yi to nine
years in prison this morning, days after his secret trial.
Wang, who
is the pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church, was found guilty of “inciting subversion
of state power” and “illegal business operations.” Both charges were given to
him because of his position within the church.
Wang was
taken into custody on Dec. 9, 2018, along with 100 other members of his church.
On Dec. 26, 2019, he was tried suddenly and secretly. Today, officials handed
him a nine-year sentence along with three years of denied political rights and
a 50,000 yuan [$7,000 USD] fine.
“This is a
pure case of unjust religious persecution against a peaceful preacher of a
Chinese reformed church,” ChinaAid Founder and President Dr. Bob Fu said. “This
grave sentence demonstrates Xi’s regime is determined to be the enemy of
universal values and religious freedom. We call upon the international
community to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party and hold this evil regime accountable.”
“The nine-year
sentence to Pastor Wang Yi represents the harshest persecution to a Chinese
house church pastor in more than a decade,” Fu added. “We urge Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback to
condemn and take immediate action against this barbaric act by the Communist
Party regime.
Recently,
many of the church’s members have been mandated to meet with public security
officials five times a day.
Photo: Wang Yi (left) and his wife, Jiang Rong. Credit: ChinaAid
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