Expose, Encourage The lawyers for an incarcerated house church pastor in Guiyang, the largest city in China’s inland Guizhou province, expressed their belief that their client, Pastor Yang Hua of Huoshi Church, was tortured in prison. This revelation comes after an announcement that his case has been transferred to the court for trial. Yang was administratively detained on Dec. 9, 2015, then criminally detained for “illegally holding state secrets,” and arrested for “divulging state secrets” on Jan. 22. One of Yang’s lawyers, Chen Jiangang, told China Aid that when he and his co-counsel, Zhao Yonglin, visited the pastor on April 22, they saw a prison official threaten Yang. Chen said they suspect that Yang has been subjected to inhumane treatment during his detention and Yang in poor spirits. The lawyers are currently attempting to determine to what extent Yang has been mistreated. “The person from the Procuratorate office in charge of this case tried to coerce Pastor Yang Hua [to confess to his crimes],” Chen said on April 24. “Now, Yang Hua is somewhat afraid. Since Yang Hua has not made any oral confessions, he has not done anything criminal. He neither understands the affairs of other people nor will speak irresponsibly about them. When the time for the decision came, the authorities extended his detention another three months.” Shortly after, Yang’s case was transferred to the Nanming District Court in Guiyang. No trial date has been announced. In an effort to secure Yang’s release, China Aid has launched the #FreeYangHua campaign. To find out more about Yang’s situation and sign the petition for his release, please visit www.freeyanghua.org.
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