Chinese pastor Wang Yi has been sentenced to nine years in prison after he was convicted on charges including inciting to subvert state power and illegal business operations.
The pastor – a former human rights lawyer who founded the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2008, and who had criticised the government’s policy on unregistered or ‘house’ churches – was detained with his wife, Jiang Rong, and about 100 congregants during a raid last December. Most of the congregants were later released. Some have since reportedly gone to Taiwan and are seeking asylum in the US.
Wang Yi (left) with his wife, Jiang Rong. PICTURE: Via ChinaAid.
Wang was subjected to what has been described as a “secret” trial on 26th December and, along with the prison sentence, was given a 50,000 yuan ($US7,000) fine.
News of the sentence has provoked condemnation from religious rights organisations.
US-based ChinaAid President Bob Fu said it was a “pure case of unjust religious persecution against a peaceful preacher of a Chinese reformed church”.
“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.”
Mervyn Thomas, CEO of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, said the pastor has been “convicted on baseless criminal charges simply for standing up for his beliefs”.
“We call on the Chinese authorities to drop the charges against Pastor Wang and to release him and all remaining members of Early Rain Church from detention.”
Gina Goh, International Christian Concern‘s regional manager for South-East Asia, said the sentence was further proof that the Chinese Government “disregards religious freedom and is paranoid about Christians from house churches”.
“The unfounded accusations against Pastor Wang Yi and the inhumane treatment of his wife and son are pure evil. The international community must rally behind Pastor Wang and condemn China for its ongoing persecution against Christians.”
The US Government has also condemned the sentence with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing his “alarm” in a tweet. “Beijing must release him and end its intensifying repression of Christians and members of all other religious groups,” he said.
