Church elder charged with “subverting state power” in China
On March 16, 2021, several members of Guiyang Renai Reformed Church gathered for a Bible study in a rented room at Wenzhou Hotel (China). Police interrupted them and accused them of hosting an illegal gathering.
An elder of the church, Zhang Chunlei, went to the police station to negotiate the release of the members who had been detained, police detained him also. He was supposed to be released after only 11 days of administrative detention, but has been in custody for the last year an a half.
Earlier this month, Zhang Chunlei was officially charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and “fraud.” He is still imprisoned and will remain in jail for the foreseeable future.
Despite his unjust treatment by the Chinese government, Elder Zhang once said, “I do not have a grudge in my heart against the police. I love them as well as State security officers and prosecutors who handle my case. I pray for them. I love and pray for my country—China.”
Elder Zhang’s case is noted by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. He was marked as being detained for his religious identity and activity.
Source: persecution.org