The wife of a pastor was reportedly buried alive last week while she was protesting the demolition of her church in China’s Henan Province.
China Aid says Ding Cuimei and her husband Pastor Li Jiangong were buried on 14th April after they stepped in front of a bulldozer as a local developer, with the support of the government, attempted to demolish their church building in Zhumadian. While Pastor Li was able to dig his way out, China Aid says Ding Cuimei died of suffocation. Local police are reportedly investigating.
Bob Fu, US-based president of China Aid, said the act was a “serious violation of the rights to life, religious freedom and rule of law” and called for authorities to take immediate action.
Meanwhile, Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of UK-based religious freedom advocacy Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said the group was “shocked and concerned” by the death in connection with a church demolition and urged authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
Mr Thomas also expressed concern over reports that a Catholic priest, Fr Yang Jianwei, went missing in Hebei Province on 15th April – the third Catholic priest to have disappeared and been suspected to have been detained by authorities this month.
Fr Yang, who was reportedly undertaking a driving test when he disappeared, belongs to a Catholic community which is not recognised by the Chinese Government and is considered part of the “underground” church. CSW reports that at least five “underground” Catholic priests in Hebei are believed to have been detained by authorities this month; two of them have since been released.
“The enforced disappearance of any citizen, including religious leaders, human rights lawyers and petitioners, is incompatible with (the) rule of law,” Mr Thomas said, calling for an immediate investigation. “We further call on the Chinese Government to remove restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief for both registered and unregistered communities in China.”
