Three members of Nanle County Christian Church detained since November 2013 were released on June 11, according to reports from China Aid Association.
Fan Ruiling (also known as Fan Ruizhen), Yan Beibei and Zhao Zhijun were among over 20 members of Nanle County Christian Church detained in November and December 2013. Yan Beibei, 23, was the youngest church member detained.
On November 15, several church members, including Yan Beibei and Zhao Zhijun, were detained after petitioning a higher authority about a land dispute involving the church, which belongs to the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). The following day, police detained the church’s pastor, Zhang Shaojie, without any formal documentation. Fan Ruiling was detained after attending a church service on November 17. Church members, lawyers and Christians visiting the family of detained Protestant Pastor Zhang Shaojie were beaten, harassed and detained by ‘hired thugs’, police and government agencies in December 2013.
Still in prison
The release of Fan, Yan and Zhao leaves six church members in detention, including Pastor Zhang Shaojie and his sister, Zhang Cuijian. Although some lawyers have been able to meet with their clients, so far only Zhang Shaojie has been to trial. He faces charges of fraud and ‘disturbing public order’.
